Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Gainesville City Commissioners approve development notifications for affected residents

Neighborhood associations are now set to receive development updates in an effort to improve transparency

A crane towers over the Evolve apartment complex construction site at 931 West University Avenue on Tuesday, June 16, 2021. Evolve is one of several new mid-rise apartment complexes under construction in midtown and downtown Gainesville.
A crane towers over the Evolve apartment complex construction site at 931 West University Avenue on Tuesday, June 16, 2021. Evolve is one of several new mid-rise apartment complexes under construction in midtown and downtown Gainesville.

Gainesville’s City Commission unanimously passed a motion June 14 that will notify residents of any future land development updates.

The notifications would be sent to affected neighborhood associations and anyone who voluntarily signs up to receive them. The proposal comes as soaring housing demand is fueling controversial developments and adding to the affordable housing crisis in Gainesville. 

Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos added a motion, which passed, that put the proposal under review to see how it fares in terms of equity, cost and whether it would further slow development projects. 

The commission meeting was organized by Commissioner Gail Johnson, who proposed similar motions in the past that were voted down. Over 30 people participated in public comment, some prompted by Johnson’s Facebook post about the meeting. Only two public callers expressed opposition to the proposal.

Stephanie Birch, a Gainesville resident, called into the meeting to support the proposal and express confusion about the commission’s priorities. She questioned why the commission would prioritize quick and easy development over the community’s trust.

“What possible benefit could there be to deny the people an honest and fair opportunity to democratic participation?” Birch asked.

Melissa Montilla, who lives in the Southeast Historic District, emphasized the need for commissioners to keep their promises.

“You guys ran on platforms of engagement and inclusivity,” Montilla said. “To hear from folks that the professionals know better than the public citizenry is frankly infuriating.

Elizabeth Hauk, a member of the City of Gainesville’s Historic Preservation Board, called into the meeting to support the motion.

“Serving on the board, I have been so disappointed in the lack of will to save homes in our historic Black neighborhoods,” Hauk said.

A will to save homes in neighborhoods like Duckpond persists, but communities like Pleasant Street and Quarters Porters have not seen that same will, she said.

Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker pointed to public opposition regarding plans to turn a former affordable housing unit in Seminary Lane, a historically Black neighborhood, into luxury student housing. 

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox

Before Duncan-Walker was elected commissioner in March, she founded the Gainesville Alliance for Equitable Development, which formed to oppose the Seminary Lane project. The developer approached her to coordinate a community engagement process, which brought about 30 community stakeholders to a meeting with the developer, she said.

“To say that that process was disingenuous would be an understatement,” Duncan-Walker said.

The developer led the community to believe nothing could be done to stop the development, but that was not the case, Duncan-Walker said. 

Community members found potential violations to Gainesville’s land development code in the city’s approval of the project and tried to stop the project on those grounds. In response, the developer asked for a special use permit and tried avoiding a public hearing, Duncan-Walker said. 

A judge ruled in favor of the developer.

Duncan-Walker said the city needs to take caution when hearing from developers and consider the voices of community members.

“No one is more expert in their community than the community members themselves,” Duncan-Walker said. “We need the public to be a part of this process to provide insight into what is often overlooked.”

Saco said she was annoyed by how often Seminary Lane is referred to as a failure on the commission’s part because that land was never owned by the city.

The owner of that land had a right to sell it to someone who could build within the restrictions of the land’s zoning code, which was already in place when the land was sold, Saco said. 

“That had nothing to do with the people up here, and if that upsets people, I’m sorry that you’re upset by facts,” Saco said. “Feel free to vote me out in four years.”

Almost every candidate for a city commission seat has run on affordable housing for the past eight to 16 years, Tyra Edwards, who ran for and lost the District 1 City Commission seat in 2018, said. 

“But nothing has been done at all,” Edwards said. “It keeps being thrown on the table and it just keeps being thrown to the side.”

Edwards lives in East Gainesville and is not satisfied with how past commissions have used East Gainesville as a prop to get elected but have done nothing to solve problems like affordable housing.

“I think it’s time for you to put the pen on the paper and do what is needed,” Edwards said. “Give us what we put you in the seat for.”


Contact Alexander Lugo at alugo@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @alexlugo67.

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Alexander Lugo

Alex is a fourth-year journalism student at UF and is in his third semester at The Alligator where he is serving as the university editor. He previously reported on university administration and the city and county commission. In his free time, he enjoys video games, traveling and being outdoors.


Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.