- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Gainesville a $25 million Choice Neighborhoods grant.
- The grant targets redevelopment of Lake Terrace and Pine Meadows neighborhoods, totaling 180 housing units near ELITE Force Training Center.
- Surveys revealed community desires for safer road crossings, banks, grocery stores, and local businesses in the redevelopment area.
Gainesville interim City Manager Andrew Persons interrupted Thursday’s regular meeting to announce that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had sent a letter awarding the city of Gainesville and the Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) a $25 million Choice Neighborhoods grant.
The application for the grant focused on the low-income neighborhoods of Lake Terrace and Pine Meadows on East University Avenue, and the city and GHA hosted dozens of meetings and compiled hundreds of survey responses to draft the application.
The process started in 2023 with Gainesville getting one of 13 national planning grants to engage the community in order to then submit for the bigger Choice Neighborhoods grant. GHA finished the planning process last year—all with hopes that its project would be one of a select few.
After Persons’ announcement, commissioners clapped and cheered. Mayor Harvey Ward raised his hands and said the commission could break its own rules against audible celebrations in the chamber.
The city plans to use the grant to redevelop the two neighborhoods, with a combined 180 units, that surround the ELITE Force Training Center, located in Pine Meadows. The grant could also allow additional mixed-income development at the site.
The planning also looked at businesses in the area and gaps. Survey respondents placed a bank or credit union as their highest desire, followed closely by a bakery/cafe, a grocery store and then a barbershop or salon.
The survey also reported that safer road crossings were top of mind, especially after the 2021 death of four-year-old Pine Meadows resident Dylan Roberts. Roberts was killed right in front of the neighborhood when crossing East University Avenue.
The city hopes the grant would allow for a transformational redevelopment of the neighborhoods and the East University Avenue area, with Fred Cone Park next door and a straight shot to downtown.
In its acceptance letter, HUD noted that the $25 million award is less than the $26 million requested because of funding constraints. But the letter said more funding could open up and be sent through other grant awards.
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Somehow, the Gainesville City Commissioners and Mayor will figure out how to use this grant for something other than what is good for the target area and residents of Gainesville! No one is controlling them after they receive Federal Funding!
Just another pigs at the trough opportunity for the Mayor and CC!
Gainesville Derangement Syndrome
Why would any banks, retail grocers or businesses want to invest and operate in this area?
I won’t be at all surprised when GNV squanders this $25 million grant on crosswalks, parks, trails, etc. (that nearly no one in these communities cares about or will use).
Ricki – let’s look on the brighter side – that’s going to keep less of the NE/SE “residents” from moving to NW and SW.
Great news! And the nay sayers will say what?
That until Gville deals with crime any grocery or retail stores funded will drown in a tidal wave of theft . For you newcomers this has been amply established over many years. Second we do not need high six figure flat out giveaway grants to sponsor the opening of businesses by residents of the area. Our inept local government has a well established track record of this type of behavior that amounts striking a match to money that is simply gone with no resulting ongoing business,
Many congratulations to the city on this win for East Gainesville. A significant accomplishment.
Bravo bravo to everyone for your hard work, support, input, and most of all- Hope that doesn’t give up…
Of course a big thank you to the federal government for the $, I’m happy to pay taxes for it to come back to Gainesville Florida.
Wow! A $25 million Choice Neighborhoods grant! Congratulations, and good work to the City of Gainesville. Thank you for snagging $25,000,000 of the federal tax money we paid back to Gainesville!
(And even with that terrific news, note that there are complaints and gripes about our elected city leaders. Besides, what’s wrong with “crosswalks, parks, trails, etc.”? Those seem like an excellent expenditure. And, they DO get used!)
Unfortunately unless wr have a change in government the money will be squandered. Gville has a long history of sponsored projects in east Gainesville that are delusional and result in complete waste. Simply put our government lacks the executive skills and managerial involvement to prevent the projects from simply failing in short order. Read up on the last 15 years of the tragic waste of money in East Gainesville
Lord know eats Gainesville needs help but throwing money out by inept government leaders means the money is lost quickly
You mean like rainbow crosswalks that everyone hated and green striped bike lanes that no one uses and parks where all the drunks sleep and trails where people get mugged or pick up hookers?
Join this transformative effort with the city’s and state’s upcoming improvements on University Avenue from the campus stadium to Waldo Road and we have a very much improved East Gainesville community. It may even lead to the debbie-downers moving from west to east!
Typical On Golden Duck Pond comment.