Magnolia Parke looks to add residential units 

Gainesville City Hall
Gainesville City Hall
File photo by Suzette Cook

The Gainesville Plan Board approved a planned development amendment to Magnolia Parke as the developer looks to add up to 390 residential units.  

The development, on the north side of NW 39th Avenue and bordering unincorporated Alachua County, started in 1997 and has grown to include One Love Cafe, Ichiban Sushi, UF Health Rehab Center and other commercial lots. But the planned development always included the ability to build up to 400 residential units.  

Currently, only 10 units have been built, leaving a maximum of 390 new units. David Sowell, project manager with Kimley-Horn, said the developer wants to balance the commercial and fully realize the original live/work vision.  

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The amendments concern four pods within the development and removed floor area ratio limits, maximum building footprint limits, increase the maximum number of stories to four within pods C and E and three stories in pod A.  

Despite the changes, the density and intensity of the development will stay the same as the 1997 plan, Sowell said. The residential units will come in four-story apartment buildings. 

He said the developer might also make changes to the large open field beside One Love Cafe to make it better. 

Board members asked for glazing and facade standards like in the updated transect zones that came since the planned development. Also, instead of reducing the required number of stories to one in some areas, the developer will work with city staff on a minimum building height of around 20 feet.  

The developer will figure out the exact standards with city staff before arriving at the Gainesville City Commission for a first and second reading.  

Sowell said the developer plans to place the amendment at the next City Commission meeting and return with development plans at the first of 2024. 

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Enough is Enough

Stop building apartments or Codos, no one wants to live in apartments. Nor do they want to live in a house inches away from each other. We already have a 200 unit in the same area and only 14 are rented. This shows you don’t care about the citizens. Only about putting money in your pocket. Gainesville, when are you going to stand up and get rid of the Democrat Swamp; it is drowning everyone!

Donald Shoup

The vacancy rate in Gainesville is low; would love to see the evidence that a 200 unit building only has 14 of their units rented. If you want to tell someone what they can do with their private property; purchase it for yourself.

Nancy

Where are you getting you info? Not only are apartment buildings over running Gainesville it is destroying the older building around them. Look at Downtown Gainesville. How many people know there are mines underground. Therefore, it affects how much weight the land can take before something gives. That why the walls are cracking in Downtown Gainesville! It not a matter of telling someone what they can do; as it is what is good for the growth of our city.
Apartment renting does not build wealth; only for the owners! The complex near Springhill on 39th Ave. check it out.