The demolition of the Thelma Boltin Center has started.
Despite a request from Alachua County for a 90-day pause, the city of Gainesville started the demolition on Tuesday, 12 days after the commission voted to end its $3 million renovation plans.
A John Deere backhoe sat in the middle of the building, now missing its roof and large parts of the walls. The demolition officially ends four years of back-and-forth decisions about how, or if, the city should move forward.
At a General Policy Meeting on Thursday, the City Commission addressed the center for the last time.
Commission Ed Book asked staff to clarify if Gainesville’s codes require a wait period, like what the county requested. He said residents had sent emails claiming the city is violating its own codes.
City Manager Cynthia Curry replied that the city isn’t bound by a 90-day delay.
“Unless there is an action by this commission that overturns what happened last Thursday, we are proceeding with all due diligence to demo Thelma Boltin,” Curry said.
“Within our own policies and laws, correct,” Mayor Harvey Ward asked.
“Correct,” Andrew Persons, chief operating officer, replied. “And again, just to reiterate, this is a dangerous building, so it is not subject to the 90-day delay.”
The city of Gainesville’s code enforcement declared the center a dangerous building back in August 2022, before the commission voted on a $5.3 million partial restoration plan in early 2023. But in September 2023, the commission paused its previous action and then decided on a $3 million plan to stabilize and open the building.
However, this summer, city staff said just stabilizing the building would cost the full $3 million, half provided by Alachua County. Now, a renovation would cost $7 million, staff said, causing the commissioners to reconsider and vote for demolition.
Several local residents protested the decision, including the group Friends of Thelma Boltin Center. They accused the city of demolition by neglect for allowing the building to become dangerous and failing to maintain it.
The city now plans to use the space as a trailhead for the Sweetwater Trail Loop and to install plaques about the building, its history and the veterans it served.
The Thelma Boltin Center was built in 1942 as a social venue for soldiers preparing to leave for World War II. After the war, the city bought the building for $12,500 and used it for programs, like Friday night dances.
Thelma Boltin managed the building through the war, and Gainesville kept her as director afterward. In 1956, she moved to White Springs, where she directed the Florida Folk Festival.
Gainesville bands played at the Friday dances. Stephen Stills, Don Felder and Bernie Leadon, now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, performed at the center and fellow rock legend Tom Petty attended dances there.
When cities and counties fail to condemn unsafe buildings, they gamble with lives, invite crime, sink property values, and pile future costs on the backs of taxpayers. And let’s be honest—Alachua County, with the second-highest millage rate in Florida, would have gladly left this eyesore standing while sending the bill to us. Thankfully, the City of Gainesville had the backbone to tear it down. Now real progress can finally take root on this site.
Sorry, but I haven’t seen any progress in infrastructure/real-estate. One very little example: Dub’s. They tore down that landmark and put a new Social Security building in its place.
Finally – I can say that Team Gainesville has done something positive. This eyesore had absolutely no value and its “building huggers” couldn’t even raise more that $20,000 (?) to save it. The WWII soldiers who might remember it are dead in all likelihood . Friday night dances were not exclusive to TBC so it iwas nothing special there either. A lot of money was saved today and secretly I think the Duckies approve (wink wink). I certainly do.
Attending teen time there in the early 60s was part of growing up in Gainesville before the 60s culture swept was what was young life then in Gainesville
Jim – I can appreciate your nostalgia for the 60s but why should this city and this county pay MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS to keep a building alive that was on life support? Why? Nostalgia? The money could be well spent elsewhere. Also, Jim – why couldn’t your fellow lovers of TBC not raise more than $20,000? Because obviously most people do not see that your memories of sock hops are worth MILLIONS of OUR TAX DOLLARS. Just sayin’.
Got nothin better?
How does a well built building become dangerous in only 80 years when the only owner of which uses other people’s money for maintenance? How does a beautiful and historic asset to the community become an unsalvageable and expensive thorn in it’s side?
The somewhat historic building is demolished. There were some in our community that commented in a bigoted way calling the defenders building huggers. O.k. I get it. But every piece of our heritage (this structure qualified) that gets bulldozed into oblivion is another piece of identity this community lost. Gainesville is more generic every passing day. Its been reported that our town now ranks second most dangerous college town in the country. Deteriorating and there appears no turning back. Those of us that remember can only look away.
Thank you
I don’t understand how it’s being demolished so quickly. Apparently they did not go out to bid?!? It’s a few hundred thousand dollar demolition project!