Committees
About Our Committees
A significant amount of Riverside Avondale Preservation’s work takes place within our many committees. We have Board Committees, Standing Committees, Event Committees and more.
We’d love you to join us! If you are a current member of RAP and interested in helping in any of these committees, email info@riversideavondale.org to inquire about openings and more.
Standing Committees
PRESERVATION & ZONING
The Zoning and Historic Preservation Committees meet together. The monthly agenda covers Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission agenda items, Planning Commission agenda, zoning notices, and neighborhood concerns. Our committee will meet with developers, businesses, or residents, to discuss issues impacting the community — mitigating tension where available. Committee members attend the monthly Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission meetings and speak to precedent setting decisions regarding exterior changes to properties in the district. When necessary, we participate at the Special Magistrate hearings on code enforcement issues or with the Planning Commission. At times, the committee may pull together specialists to speak to historic preservation elements in the community as a workshop or public meeting.
MEMBERS
Jeff Lane, architect – Co-Chair & Board Liaison
Autumn Martinage, urban planner – Co-Chair
Melody Bishop, architect – Board Liaison
Andre Green, development – Board Liaison
Glenn Chandler, general contractor – Board Liaison
Eric Davidson, communications – Community Member
Amit Vaswani, architect – Community Member
Nathalie Mockler, realtor – Community Member
Angela Schifanella, architect – Community Member
Shannon Blankinship, executive director – RAP Staff
Antonette Johnson McBride, market manager – RAP Staff
GOVERNANCE
MEMBERS
Jeff Graf, banking (retired) – Co-Chair & Board Liaison
Alexandra Rudnik, community impact director – Co-Chair
Jill Dame, nonprofit leader (retired) – Board Liaison
Heather Cosgrove, realtor and HR expert – Board Liaison
Perry Reynolds, retail professional (retired) – Secretary
Shannon Blankinship, executive director – RAP Staff
FINANCE
MEMBERS
Alysa Carmichael, CFO & accountant – Chair & Board Liaison
Parker Barribal, financial manager – Board Liaison
Jeff Graf, banking (retired) – Board Liaison
Andre Green, development – Board Liaison
Kashif Coppin, accountant – CPA
Eun Cho, CEO – RAM Vendor
Shannon Blankinship, executive director – RAP Staff
Chloe Kuhn, market director – RAP Staff
ENGAGEMENT
MEMBERS
Jill Dame, nonprofit leader (retired) – Board Liaison
Dan Marshall, financial manager – Board Liaison
Whitney Meyer, community impact director – Board Liaison
Kim Kelly, attorney – Board Liaison
Peggy Hildreth, retail executive (retired) – Community Member
Matthew Smartz, campaigns and appeals – Community Member
Casey Roth, development director – RAP Staff
SPECIAL PURPOSE COMMITTEES
Transportation & Infrastructure
The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee has 3 focus areas for 2024: 1. Streets, Cars & Busses; 2. Flooding, Drainage, & Resiliency; 3. Biking. For Streets, Cars, & Busses, our goal is to maintain our historic street grid and advance and enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility. In Flooding & Drainage, our goal is to use local expertise to monitor city projects and provide awareness of safety information in advance of storm events. For biking, our goal is to enhance and improve biking access in Riverside and Avondale. This committee meets monthly and discusses an agenda of relevant updates and information on each topic including roadway improvements and CIP projects.
Members:
Brooks Andrews (Chemical Engineer-retired)
Andrew Bilello, Chair (Bridge Engineer)
Scott Ennis (Engineer)
Thomas Killoy – Bike/Ped Lead (Honeypot Collective)
Kellen Lindsey (Civil Engineer)
Adam Storm (Transportation)
Robert Turnage (Engineer)
Parks
The Parks Committee keeps track of park improvement projects and advocates for park amenities. We’ve developed a team of Parks Stewards that serve as the eyes and ears of our 26 parks and numerous other public spaces in the neighborhood. The Stewards help with the two annual cleanups in March and September and bring attention to any issues or community concerns happening in our parks. The Parks Committee receives the proceeds from the annual Riverside Avondale Preservation Garden Tour which creates a fund for Park enhancements and improvements.
Members:
Reed Hawkins (Realtor)
Alexandria Rudnik (Community Impact Manager)
Pamela Telis, Chair (retired Civil Engineer)
Creative Placemaking
The Creative Placemaking Committee intends to elevate the physical and social character of our neighborhood through the creation and promotion of arts, artists, and cultural activities. Our focus in 2026 is to advance the placemaking projects from concept to completion, including major initiatives like Riverside’s newest mural, “Abundant Waters,” a 90-foot public art installation at the JEA pump station under the I-95 Fuller Warren Bridge, home to Riverside Arts Market. The committee also serves as a sounding board for ideas from local artists in supporting new projects.
Members:
Melody Bishop (Architect)
Tiffany Bess (Compost Expert)
Sondra Fetner (Placemaker)
Stephanie Freeman (Resident & Consultant)
Mike Kovacs (Data Analyst & Business Strategist)
Brandi Mathews (Project & Event Management)
Brittany Nazario (Marketing)
Riverside Arts Market Advisory Committee
The Riverside Arts Market meets quarterly with its Advisory Committee to review high -level activity at the market. The Advisory Committee is made up of community members and RAM makers and artists to give a unique perspective on the trajectory of the market.
Members:
Jaycel Adkins (RAM Vendor)
Sondra Fetner (Placemaker)
Brent Fine, Chair (Special Events)
Kathleen Hill (RAM Vendor)
Crystal Israel (RAM Vendor)
Noel Michael (RAM Vendor)
Caron Streibich (Communications Manager)
Friends of the Labyrinth
The Friends of the Labyrinth at Peace Park is a grassroots citizen committee formed in partnership with the City of Jacksonville and the Riverside Avondale Preservation. The objective is to build and install a labyrinth at the Peace Memorial Rose Garden in historic Riverside. The purpose of this park is to help enhance the history of the park and to create an interactive meditative environment for the community to enjoy.
The project broke ground in March 2026 led by a construction team with Akon through the City of Jacksonville Parks Department. The project timeline works through the summer, with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2026.
For a June 2026 update on this project, click HERE.
Members:
Ann Burt (Retired Accountant)
Hazel Cleary (Retired Executive)
Ladd Roberts (Landscape Architect with Landwise Design)
Ruth Thompson (Beekeeper)
Cultural Trail
The Riverside Avondale Cultural Trail is a concept project that will enhance needed wayfinding for the Riverside Arts Market, Shared Use Path (SUP), Memorial Park, and 5 Points corridor with technology. The Cultural Trail will utilize a series of markers and guideposts to lead participants along one of the most culturally rich sections of Jacksonville, highlighting history, art, video, poetry and more. The trail converges with the Emerald Trail for a segment along Riverside Avenue.
Members:
Brooks Andrews, Chair (Retired Engineer)
Melody Bishop (Architect)
Allegra Cagigas (Insurance & Realtor)
Sondra Fetner (Placemaker)
Victor Joudi (Business Owner)
Brandi Matthews (Leadership Manager)
Rick Pariani (Landscape Architect)
Wayne Wood & Lana Shuttleworth (Historian and Artist)
Many subcommittees are also active including Content Curation, Design & Construction, and Marketing & Branding.
Buckland House Master Plan
Originally designed by Landscape Architect Rick Pariani, the concept for the landscape of the Buckland House includes a reduction in impervious surface via removal of a portion of the parking lot, tree planting and native landscaping with a wet detention area, and the expansion of the office via a covered patio porch that seats up to 24 for meetings and workshops in a more private setting. In addition, the backyard offers a seating lawn for up to 100 people for programs and space for public art and further preserves the building. The project kicked off in May 2024 with a generous matching gift from the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and the City of Jacksonville. Project completion expected by October 2025.
Members:
Glenn Chandler (General Contractor)
Angela Schifanella (Architect)
Event Committees
Annual Meeting & Preservation Awards
This committee helps plan our annual meeting, preparing the agenda, speakers, program, and invitations. The committee also creates the juries that select Service and Preservation award winners. The event is held on the third Thursday in February.
Home Tour
The Home Tour is the pinnacle of RAP’s mission, celebrating successful restoration and rehabilitation while showcasing historic architecture. We feature the architects, builders, craftsman and designers who bring a home together, and gain insight into how to restore each individual property.
The 53rd annual Home Tour is April 10-11, 2027.
Members (2026):
Phyllis Bell-Davis (Retired Journalist)
Shannon Blankinship (RAP Staff)
Laine Girardeau (Reatlor)
Erika Guenther (Landscape Architect)
Travis Joyal (RAP Staff)
Joi Perkins (Realtor)
Leslie Rios Wilkins (Realtor)
Casey Roth (RAP Staff)
Victoria St. Clair (Realtor)
Garden Tour
The Garden Tour is a curated journey showcasing select Riverside Avondale’s gardens and exterior living spaces, each year held on the day before Mother’s Day. The Garden Tour also incorporates Duval County Master Gardeners from the UF/IFAS Extension. Master Gardeners are available at each property on the tour providing tour attendees the opportunity to speak with an expert about their own gardens and landscaping.
The 7th annual Garden Tour is planned for May 8, 2027.
Members (2027):
Candace Barone (Master Gardener)
Shannon Blankinship (RAP Staff)
Alex Gornik, Chair (Plant Consultant)
Travis Joyal (RAP Staff)
Judy Matheny (Adjunct Professor)
Bruce Musser (Business Owner)
Casey Roth (RAP Staff)
Kim Rutkowski (Master Gardener)
Luminaria
Luminaria is a beloved community event that brings thousands of visitors into the historic district. Typically held the Sunday before Christmas, thousands of luminaries are lit at dusk and placed along the sidewalks, streets, park pathways, and porches creating an unsurpassed and serene glow show.
The 42nd annual Luminaria is December 21, 2026.
Music Tour
The Music Tour is aimed at showcasing different periods of music history in our city. The event will highlight music written or created here, local musicians, or music today influenced by the neighborhood and its people. The Music Tour is walkable and is centered around a specific area or district within the neighborhood.
The 3rd annual Music Tour is October 11, 2026.
Members (2026):
James Bayer (Independent Music Label)
Shannon Blankinship (RAP Staff)
Tim Gilmore (Historian & Author)
Mahaley Jacobs (RAP Staff)
Travis Joyal (RAP Staff)
Cat Nagaard (Attorney & Talent Manager)
Jeremy McKinnies (Myztroh & Educator)
Casey Roth (RAP Staff)
Ron Rothberg (Amplified Avondale)
Kensley Stewart (Musician)
Darren White (Brand Strategist)