Mainstreet Daily News
A Gainesville real estate developer and property management firm recently purchased the first six floors of the historic Seagle Building in downtown Gainesville.
Trimark Properties bought the bottom half of the 11-story Seagle Building located at 408 W. University Ave. Started in 1926 and completed in 1937, the Seagle Building is on the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP) and was once the tallest building in Gainesville. The building included landmarks such as the exclusive, membership-only Heritage Club and the original location of UF’s Natural History Museum, according to a Trimark press release announcing the purchase.
Trimark will reportedly look into transforming some or all of the current residential and commercial condos into retail, restaurant, office, or residential spaces.
“When I heard that a portion of The Seagle Building was for sale, I was excited to have the chance to be a part of its story,” John Fleming, Trimark’s managing partner, said in a statement. He added that he was drawn to the space due to his love of the building’s history and architecture.
“My time at Trimark Properties has given me a unique opportunity to preserve and protect historic spaces in Gainesville, like many of the charming residences around UF, or the famous Swamp Restaurant,” he said. “The Seagle Building is a Gainesville icon, and we’re honored to bring Trimark’s decades of property management experience to the table as we strive to ensure the building’s character and beauty continue to withstand the test of time.”
The NRHP added the building to the registry as the Hotel Kelley/Dixie Hotel in 1982.
This is one of more than 60 historic structure redevelopment projects Trimark Properties is currently working on, according to its release. The company, founded in 1992, recently collaborated with The Swamp Restaurant to rebuild a new two-story structure that broke ground in October.