In May 2025, after years of waiting and wondering, the renovation of the old brick house, down the street from the duck pond, has finally begun. Tucked into the tree-lined charm of San Marco, the historic brick home at 1106 Eutaw Place is stepping back into the spotlight.
Built in 1936, this Mediterranean Revival–style home that once faced San Jose Boulevard, is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a survivor. It sat dormant for nearly two decades, its strong bones outlasting time, neglect, and uncertainty. Now, after a dramatic 2020 relocation that repositioned the house on the property, while preserving its original structure, it’s finally getting the full attention and the love it deserves.
Avant owners, Alan and Ellen Cottrill, purchased the house as part of their passion for restoring old properties. After years of unforeseen delays, the renovation is underway, with the help of Avant Project Manager, Victor DeSouza, who shares a similar passion:
“For me, this isn’t just another project. I’ve always been drawn to the historical layers in older homes. There’s something deeply moving about walking into a space where you don’t know the stories, but you feel them. I love the process of merging the past and present: uncovering how the house was originally built, honoring those intentions, and thoughtfully bringing it into a livable, modern future. That intersection is where the magic happens,” commented Victor.
The house makes its presence known the moment you step inside. The stonework, the all-brick construction, the soft archways, it’s a testament to a time when craftsmanship mattered.
While we’re preserving the historic spirit of the place, the interior will see a complete transformation. We’re rethinking the layout, modernizing bathrooms and bedrooms, and upgrading every system. But we’re doing it with great care. For instance, the original archway possibly designed or influenced by early 20th-century builders is staying intact, as well as the original brick fireplace. It’s those touches that ground the renovation in its roots.Challenges? Plenty. Surprises too, including relics that date back as early as 1909. But that’s the nature of a house like this. It speaks in fragments, and we get to piece the story together.
What’s been especially heartening is the reaction from the community. Every neighbor we’ve spoken to is excited and grateful to see the renovation finally underway. This isn’t just about restoring one structure. It’s about preserving a piece of San Marco’s identity and showing that old doesn’t mean obsolete, it means irreplaceable.
This house deserves to stand tall again, not as a frozen artifact, but as a vibrant, lived-in part of Jacksonville’s present and future. It was built to last, and with care, creativity, and respect, that’s exactly what we are going to do.
