Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward delivered his first-ever 2023 State of the City Address Tuesday, detailing the progress of different city projects and initiatives alongside the newest slate of city commissioners.
The city of Gainesville announced Feb. 7 it will put $7.2 million toward grants for apartment complexes willing to build housing for families at or below 65% of the city’s average median income level — amounting to $26,609, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Alachua County Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a spending plan worth millions for funding conservation and parks across the county.
The GCRA informed the Gainesville City Commission Jan. 19 of updates to the plan. It has already spent $13 million on city projects such as developing the innovation district zone near UF campus and intends to put the largest chunk of funds into the Eastside Food/Mobility Hub, which is set to finish in 2024.
The complex will be built beside the intersection of SW 2nd Avenue and SW 10th Street, in an area called the Innovation District between UF campus and downtown Gainesville. The building contract includes a clause requiring 10% of the units to be affordable housing, which will allow for 20 units with the current plan.
Lowe died in Gainesville Jan. 14 at 65. He was the District 4 city commissioner for seven years, then the first openly gay mayor from 2010 to 2013. He’s survived by his brother Allan Lowe and a legacy of protecting human rights and the environment alike.
Surprising several commissioners, the Gainesville City Commission voted Thursday to start negotiations to make three temporary charter officers permanent after over a year of restructuring.
The commission voted 3-2 Tuesday night to purchase land originally meant for affordable housing, officially stopping construction of the proposed Dogwood Village.
The Gainesville City Commission voted 4-3 to restore exclusionary zoning, which nullified the previous controversial ordinance that eliminated single family zoning.
The city of Gainesville held its swearing-in ceremony Thursday morning, officially inducting Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward and three commissioners into office.
Mayor-elect Harvey Ward and 12 other mayors from across the country met with key members of the Biden-Harris administration to discuss national policy. Gainesville was the only Florida city represented at the conference.
Gainesville has established multiple sister cities and is now adding the city of Ho, Ghana to its list — making it the 10th sister city in Gainesville’s program. The cities now span five continents and 10 countries.
Salaries for city commissioners are currently more than $37,000, with the mayor’s salary estimating more than $47,100, according to city documents. If implemented in January, salaries would increase to more than $71,000 and $88,700, respectively — a 91% salary increase for each commissioner.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity filed a suit against the city Nov. 28, looking to repeal the ordinance that would allow multi-unit apartment complexes to be built in traditionally single-unit housing neighborhoods. The suit comes just weeks after filings by local residents.
About 100 community members were in attendance at the meeting’s peak, with many calling for the abolition of the unit. However, the future direction of law enforcement policy on the matter isn’t as clear.
After delayed financial reports to the state, the Gainesville city auditor’s resignation and planned international commission trips, some local residents are worried about their tax dollars.
Alford, as well as Ken Cornell and Marihelen Wheeler, were sworn-in Tuesday morning at the Alachua County Administration Building after winning the general election Nov. 8. This will mark another consecutive term as county commissioners, giving them each another four years.
Residents of Alachua County voted to enact single-member district voting, meaning County Commissioners will only be voted in by the people they represent. The campaign saw public scrutiny from both sides due to potentially misleading signs and information. The County Commission might challenge it in the future, but for now, the amendment is here to stay.
In the coming weeks, the sheriff’s office will meet with unions to determine how to divy up the new funding, but said in the meeting payroll increases could come as early as Nov. 23.
Alachua County elected officials face legal trouble with Florida's residence requirements. The lawsuit against Wheeler was dismissed in circuit court Nov. 3. The suit was filed by Alachua resident Eugene Garvin.
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