This fall, community members can escape the honks and horns of Gainesville traffic and wander around a pedestrian-only portion of downtown.
Gainesville’s The Streatery project began construction April 13. The $4.5 million project will transform Southwest First Avenue downtown into a two-block pedestrian-friendly site for hosting festivals and events. The project will include “outdoor lighting, seating, landscaping and electrical outlets,” according to a press release.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city converted Southwest First Avenue — from South Main Street to Southwest First Street — into a pedestrian-only area. The Streatery project extends the area from South Main Street to Southwest Second Street, expanding it from one block to two.
The new portion will help connect pedestrians to shops and restaurants like Loosey’s and How Bazar.
The city commission approved the multimillion dollar project in early March. It is funded by the gas tax fund and the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area, a 10-year program meant to revitalize Gainesville.
“I think it’s going to be fantastic,” said Mayor Harvey Ward. “I’m thrilled that it’s finally moving forward.”
The city discussed the project for nearly six years. Ward traced the project’s delay to civil engagement constructions, including Gainesville’s Tom Petty Park. With a hefty list of projects, he said, it took a while for The Streatery to get in the queue.
While the city considered concerns of construction slowing down businesses, Ward said, it doesn’t seem to pose an issue. All stores and restaurants will remain open, and residents should not let construction stop them from visiting downtown, he said.
Every time an event is hosted downtown, he added, he feels it could be improved with better infrastructure. Music festivals, for example, might be better if there were better lighting or if the streets were more level, he said.
In “real cities that work,” he said, storefronts are easily accessible to cyclists and pedestrians, improving local economies.
“Giving people just a place to be … is good for cities,” Ward said. “So it’s hard for me to see a downside to a pedestrian mall.”
Local businesses also have high hopes for the project. Melanie Floyd, the owner of GainzVille Hub on Southwest Second Street, said she hopes the project will invite more customer foot traffic.
“It's definitely going to be a great impact,” Floyd said. “Because I do feel like downtown does need to get a little bit more beautified in order to bring customers, so I'm absolutely looking forward to the aftermath.”
The only downside is how the ongoing construction may impact business, she said.
Gainesville Regional Utilities is currently working on a replumbing project on Southwest Second Street from West University Avenue to Southwest First Avenue, Floyd said. The construction is right outside GainzVille Hub’s door.
Floyd said patrons are having difficulty getting to the shop and often face dust clouds when entering or leaving the store. She hopes the city will provide additional construction signage and continue to communicate with business owners.
Michael Castine, a 59-year-old who works for the Alachua County Department of Growth Management, said the project’s promise outweighs the setback of momentary construction.
“The Streatery is a great idea,” Castine said. “Once the city had already designated it as a public space, to then go and fix the drainage, good, nice lighting, make it the environment that will make people want to be there — it's a great idea.”
Other customers shared similar thoughts. Craig Burns, a 26-year-old Gainesville resident, said construction didn’t prevent him and his friends from getting lunch at Loosey’s, located on Southwest First Avenue.
Burns sees the project’s benefits to both businesses and community members.
“We don't have a whole lot of areas like this in Gainesville,” he said. “So I think that it will increase the flow and the population of people being able to socialize with others and get to know the community better.”
Construction for The Streatery is expected to be completed in October.
Contact Grace Larson at glarson@alligator.org. Follow her on X @graceellarson. Contact Maria Arruda at marruda@alligator.org. Follow her on X at @mariazalfarruda.
Maria Arruda is a second-year journalism and political science student, currently working as the City Commission reporter for The Alligator. Previously, she reported on Student Government under The Alligator's University desk. She enjoys running, reading and going to movie theaters!
Grace Larson is a first-year journalism student, currently serving as K-12 education reporter. She has previously served as city/county commission reporter for The Alligator's metro desk. In her free time, she enjoys staying active and hanging out with her family.
