Staff Reports
The Hippodrome Theatre will host a candid discussion on historic building preservation on Sunday.
The panel will take place at 2 p.m. on Jan. 14 at The Hippodrome Theatre (25 SE 2nd Place) in Gainesville.
The former federal building, a cornerstone of cultural heritage in Downtown Gainesville since 1912, is facing a significant challenge as its 112-year-old elevator has reached the end of its life and has been permanently closed. The City of Gainesville, which owns the historic building, is working with community partners to assess and plan for the replacement of this vital component.
The Hippodrome Theatre is convening a diverse panel of community leaders, developers and historical property owners to engage in an open dialogue on the challenges and opportunities surrounding the preservation and redevelopment of Gainesville’s cherished historical structures in its historic neighborhoods such as Downtown, Springhill, Duckpond, Porters, Pleasant Street.
The goal of the event is to bring together a group of stakeholders — private developers, architects, nonprofits, historical societies, universities, residents, and government agencies— to collaborate and ensure effective and sustainable historic preservation practices.
The panelists include:
Kathleen Kauffman – Historic Preservation Officer, City of Gainesville
Rick Smith – Director, Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area
Linda McGurn – Attorney and Developer, McGurn Investment Company
Bob Robins – Production/Facility Manager, The Hippodrome Theatre
Richard Gartee – Author, The Hippodrome Theatre First Fifty Years
To attend the discussion, RSVP via email by Friday, Jan. 12 to development@thehipp.org.