Gainesville and Alachua County development often draw the largest crowds to city and county meetings, and both boards have approved new projects that will break ground in the coming years.
Several apartment complexes have opened in the last couple years, some marketed directly to UF students and others for a more general audience. Mainstreet compiled the renting numbers from five of the newest complexes to look at what new apartments cost—and the incomes needed to afford them.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers affordable housing which costs no more than 30% of an occupant’s gross income (before taxes). A person’s income determines whether or not an apartment is affordable for them.
That 30% number is supposed to include utilities, leaving 70% of income for other costs like groceries, insurance, automobile costs, childcare or savings. Households that spend more than 30% on housing costs, rent and utilities, are considered “housing cost burdened” by HUD.
To find the necessary gross income to consider the following apartments affordable, you can multiply the monthly rental costs by 12 to get the total annual cost. You then multiply the annual cost by 3.33 to get the necessary gross income to consider the apartment affordable based on the 30% number used by HUD.
Needed income to avoid being housing cost burdened = Monthly rent x 12 x 3.33
Here’s a roundup of five of Gainesville’s newest apartments to look at the rental rates being charged.
The Marlowe
SW 20th Avenue
Opened in the last year, The Marlowe added hundreds of new apartments off SW 20th Avenue and just across from the newly renamed Abby Wambach Park. Marketed toward students, the apartments are close to other student housing along with complexes geared toward the general population.
1 bed/ 1 bath: The Marlowe has three different 1 bed/ 1 bath options ranging from $1,637 to $1,684 per month. The apartments are between 709 square feet and 824 square feet.
2 bed/ 2 bath: Two options exist for $1,786 or $2,086 per month. The units have 997 square feet and 1,152 square feet respectively.
3 bed/ 3 bath: One option for $2,505 at 1,321 square feet.
As of Oct. 30, The Marlowe had 35 units available for 1 bed/ 1 bath and 32 units for 2 bed/ 2 bath.
RISE Thirty Fourth
SW 34th Street
These apartments opened in the last year and emphasize “a work-play balance, providing a refreshing backdrop to the hustle and bustle of grad school and the lifestyle of young professionals.”
On a main thoroughfare, the apartments are a quick drive to Butler Plaza, UF or UF Health.
1 bed/ 1 bath: RISE offers two options at $1,763 for 770 square feet and $1,680 for 738 square feet.
2 bed/ 2 bath: RISE offers three options with the possibility of just renting one of the rooms. The Gemini option goes for $2,226 for the unit or $1,113 for a bedroom. One bedroom for the Element and Mercury options cost $1,123 and $1,076 with the unit costing double.
Stadium House
University Avenue
In the heart of Midtown, Stadium House is UF’s newest luxury apartments—with a corresponding cost.
1 bed/ 1 bath: Stadium House has two options for $2,103 or $2,335 per month. The units are 466 square feet and 569 square feet.
2 bed/ 2 bath: There’s two options with one room in each costing $1,581 or $1,710 and giving you a little less than 800 square feet.
5 bed/ 5 bath: For one bedroom of this unit, the cost is $1,283 per month.
Noble on Newberry
Newberry Road
Outside city limits in unincorporated Jonesville, Noble on Newberry finished in 2021, with plans to build an Aldi just beside it. Advertised with “indulgent details,” “luxurious living,” and “nestled in the heart of Gainesville,” the complex has 300 units along with various amenities.
1 bed/ 1 bath: The complex has two options starting at $1,565 and $1,633 with 616 square feet and 802 square feet. A 1 bed and 1.5 bath is also available for $1,750.
2 bed/ 2 bath: Several options are available with the cheapest at $1,853 per month. The higher end lists the price for more than $2,800.
3 bed/ 2 bath: There are two options starting at $2,240 and $2,357 per month.
City Place at Celebration Pointe
SW 34th Place
Located in Celebration Pointe, these apartments are within walking distance of the shops and restaurants that draw visitors from across the county. According to the website, new renters could get one month free plus complimentary Gator tickets.
1 bed/ 1 bath: The complex offers one option at $1,578 with 750 square feet.
2 bed/ 2 bath: Two options listed starting at $1,721 and $1,771 per month with another larger model available but without online pricing.
3 bed/ 2 bath: The apartment has one option starting at $2,371 for 1,380 square feet.
Would be wise to include/research the additional monthly fees added to the rent price. These can add a hundred dollars or more to the base rent price.
I appreciate the work that you do Seth but these numbers without any context don’t really help. What about older apartments? Did the building of these new apartments make older apartments more affordable? I’ve talked to landlords and they’ve definitely had to make those choices because of new supply on the market. What’s the average mortgage price for the median home price in Gainesville (265900 btw)? How many homes are actually for sale at that price? What’s their size? You have the vacant apartments for Marlowe but did the other apartments not have any vacancies?
So for it to be affordable housing by the metric stated in the article. The person renting a 1bd, 1ba has to make over $5000 per month and that is after taxes. I call BS on the entire “affordable housing” push all I have seen that program do is raise the cost of rent across the board.
you have to make $31 per hour for that one bedroom to qualify as affordable housing, THAT IS INSANE!
I think it is hilarious that they claim they are in the “heart of Gainesville.” They are located on NW 120th Terrace. That is 12 miles to downtown Gainesville, and much closer to the town of Newberry.
I would hate for someone from out of town get the idea it will be an easy drive to Shands or UF since the apartment complex is in the “heart of Gainesville”. If it is the “heart,” where is the edge of Gainesville?
SW 20th Ave? That’s the only number I’m seeing that looks anywhere close to what you said.
Thanks for the research, including the number of available (vacant) units. At the rate new units are being built, think some complexes are operating at 50% capacity (which is what hotels need to be profitable).
Obviously parents are paying for most of these units.
Unaffordable housing for most people
I felt sick to my stomach just reading the idea of paying out the amount. I have found t h e answer to the 1 trillion dollar dollar debt of college attending because this is just the housing cost.plus tuition omg plus plus ➕️ etc etc etc.
Thankfully I am a senior citizen and went to work . I am old n I feel lucky to be alive. My first “”job”” paid $2.00 an hour I had to pay taxes from that working on a dairy farm .🐮🐄 $ 2.00 officecleaning on Sunday .
I am old good luck today’s generation.
Gainesville and alachua county Will be in serious problems I believe lot of students can’t afford that and I know for sure many people don’t live in Gainesville or alachua county just work there eventually believe they will loose a lot of the tax revenue notice alot of those exspensive affordable housing are signs out front for rent for a long time one day maybe will realize this isn’t California or New York what a shame
I have a house on 2.5 acres with a garage and a big shed with power. I pay about $1000 a month and that’s including insurance and taxes. 1500 for a 1 bedroom apartment is ridiculous
Again these options are not affordable for the families and student housing is the only focus. This should be illegal at this point.
I am totally stunned at this description of City Place:
“Located in Celebration Pointe, these apartments are within walking distance of the shops and restaurants that draw visitors from across the county.”
Who wrote this? You or the propaganda marketing departing at the Upscale High Class (only) Celebration Pointe? They consider this an advantage?
Why does a local resident want to live in a tourist zone? Not for a higher quality of life, or for less traffic or for a quiet place to live. The Celebration Pointe promoters have a tunnel vision single track mind that EVERY man, woman, and child in the county is THRILLED to live in a clear cut soulless horrid overpriced crappy development in bankruptcy subsidized by massive amounts of tax money by the county commission. People with IQs larger than their shoe size consider this a big negative.
When I think “what local would deliberately want to live in an expensive tourist zone to enhance their lifestyle?” I can only think of two occupations: drug dealers and prostitutes.
While I appreciate what you’ve tried to do here you left out the income needed to rent each. And what about rents in older apartments… how do they compare?