JACKSONVILLE, Fla.— Community First Credit Union of Florida has begun construction on a new branch at the former Edgewood Bakery site in Jacksonville’s Murray Hill neighborhood, a project local leaders say will help revive a long-vacant landmark and support the area’s ongoing redevelopment.
Community First purchased the property in 2024 after the bakery building sat vacant for nearly a decade. The neighborhood staple closed in 2016, the Florida Times Union reported.
President and CEO Sam Inman said during a groundbreaking event that the credit union viewed the project as an opportunity to preserve a familiar part of Murray Hill’s identity while reinvesting in the community, the report stated.
Plan to Honor the Legacy
“As Community First embarks on transforming the former Edgewood Bakery into a modern, state-of-the-art credit union branch, we’re excited to honor the legacy this beloved Murray Hill bakery has in the community,” Inman said, according to the Florida Times-Union.
Community-Focused Design
Unlike a traditional bank branch, the redesigned location will emphasize public gathering space and neighborhood use. The Times Union said lans call for:
- A front lawn and social gathering area
- A dedicated community room
- Updated parking and exterior renovations
- A custom interior mural featuring historical images of Murray Hill
The branch will be built within the existing one-story structure, preserving much of the building’s footprint, the credit union said.
Role in Neighborhood Revitalization
Local leaders told the Times Union that redeveloping the Edgewood Bakery site is central to efforts to strengthen Murray Hill’s retail corridor.
Greg Beere, president of the Murray Hill Preservation Association, described the property as “a cornerstone of the revitalization” and said the group has worked with the credit union to represent neighborhood interests, the newspaper reported.
