The Alachua City Commission voted unanimously on Monday night to negotiate a contract with Gainesville-based Monarch Design Group for design and construction services at the Hathcock Community and Historical Center. 

“The project goal is to create a community center that we can take pride in,” Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares told the commission. “One that is durable, adaptable, and meets the needs of our current community and future generations. 

The city solicited formal requests from qualified vendors on Dec. 3, 2024, with a Feb. 4, 2025, deadline, and received responses from Monarch, Brame Heck Architects, Inc., and MLD Architects. 

A committee consisting of Valladares, Economic Development Manager David Wisener, and Recreation Department Director Damon Messina, ranked the applicants with the following total points: 

• Monarch Design Group: 270 

• Brame Heck Architects: 235 

• MLD Architects: 180 

Valladares said the committee members looked for a proposal that demonstrated a commitment to creating an “efficient, economical and high-quality space” that encourages responsible stewardship and fosters a sense of value and purpose. 

The building is historic, according to Valladares and some citizen commenters. They said it was donated to the city by the University of Florida’s dairy and has become important to the community. 

The building now serves as a community center and is the “daily focal point” for senior activities, according to the city’s website. 

The project does not yet have an estimated financial impact, as the cost will be set after Monarch has time to meet with the City Commission to identify needs and goals, to collaborate with staff on regulations, timeline and budget, and to engage the community for stakeholder input. 

The project is to be paid for with Wild Spaces Public Places infrastructure surtax. 

“We have a lot of experience with historic preservation, adaptive reuse and all that,” Barnett Chenault, president and architect at Monarch, told the commission. “You’ve seen that inside of the articles that have been presented to you, most recently working on the Seagle Building downtown [Gainesville], so we know what it takes to preserve a landmark for a city.” 

Commissioner Dayna Williams made the motion to move forward with Monarch. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jennifer Ringersen, and the commission unanimously approved it.