310 West Church Street Apartments
Encyclopedia
The 310 West Church Street Apartments, also known as the Ambassador Hotel, is a historic building located at 420 North Julia Street in Jacksonville
, Florida
, United States
. On April 7, 1983, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
.
architectural style containing Beaux-Arts elements. It opened as the upscale 310 West Church Street Apartments in 1924. Designed by Hentz, Reid
and Adler architects, the building was designed in an "H"-shape to provide windows in all of the units. The main entrance is fronted by large rusticated ashlar stonework, set with a scroll keystone.
After twenty years of use, it was converted into a hotel. Its name subsequently changed several times: it was the Three-Ten Hotel in 1944, the Hotel Southland in 1947, the Griner Hote' in 1949 and in 1955, the Ambassador Hotel. In 1970, the building was purchased by Sam Easton
, now a principal in the Jacksonville real estate firm Easton Sanderson & Company.
Over the years the hotel fell into disrepair as Jacksonville's downtown went into decline. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983, but this did not significantly improve its fortunes. It was converted into a low-rent single room occupancy
, with rooms rented by the week. It closed in 1998.
, located nearby. Carter's plan for 310 West Church, which would cost an estimated $8 million in private equity, government grants, and low-interest loans, involves converting the ground floor to commercial space and turning the top five floors into 50 unit apartments. Carter hopes the renovation will lead to a further collaboration with Easton to renovate the block.
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On April 7, 1983, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The structure is a brick, six-story building designed in the Georgian RevivalGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
architectural style containing Beaux-Arts elements. It opened as the upscale 310 West Church Street Apartments in 1924. Designed by Hentz, Reid
Neel Reid
-External links:**...
and Adler architects, the building was designed in an "H"-shape to provide windows in all of the units. The main entrance is fronted by large rusticated ashlar stonework, set with a scroll keystone.
After twenty years of use, it was converted into a hotel. Its name subsequently changed several times: it was the Three-Ten Hotel in 1944, the Hotel Southland in 1947, the Griner Hote' in 1949 and in 1955, the Ambassador Hotel. In 1970, the building was purchased by Sam Easton
Sam Easton
Sam Easton is a Canadian actor. He was nominated for the Tim Sims Award in 2000.-Filmography:*That One Night *Decoys 2: Alien Seduction *Final Destination 3 *Puck This...
, now a principal in the Jacksonville real estate firm Easton Sanderson & Company.
Over the years the hotel fell into disrepair as Jacksonville's downtown went into decline. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983, but this did not significantly improve its fortunes. It was converted into a low-rent single room occupancy
Single Room Occupancy
A single room occupancy is a multiple-tenant building that houses one or two people in individual rooms , or to the single room dwelling itself...
, with rooms rented by the week. It closed in 1998.
Renovation
In 2005, Jacksonville businessman Lamonte Carter initiated plans to purchase and restore 310 West Church Street. He had encountered the building when he happened to park in front of it on his way to an appointment. He contacted Easton, who had halted a plan to renovate the surrounding block after construction stalled on the Duval County CourthouseDuval County Courthouse
The Duval County Courthouse is the local courthouse for Duval County, Florida. It houses courtrooms and judges from the Duval County and Fourth Judicial Circuit Courts. The current facility is located in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida; a new facility currently under construction will open in...
, located nearby. Carter's plan for 310 West Church, which would cost an estimated $8 million in private equity, government grants, and low-interest loans, involves converting the ground floor to commercial space and turning the top five floors into 50 unit apartments. Carter hopes the renovation will lead to a further collaboration with Easton to renovate the block.