The city of Gainesville won its first victory in what’s expected to be a prolonged battle against Florida’s anti-riot law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Gainesville’s contentious single-family zoning elimination faces opposition again — this time from members of the Alachua County Commission.
Gainesville will be the first city in Florida to eliminate exclusionary zoning after a 4-3 vote Thursday. Hundreds of residents crammed into City Hall, for the meeting, which the city scheduled to finish at 10 p.m. Going nearly two hours over the allotted time, the vote finally came shortly before midnight.
Gainesville residents attend the Shady Grove Primitive Baptist Church Wednesday to voice concerns about the city’s plan to eliminate exclusionary zoning.
Gainesville may become the first Florida city to eliminate single-family zoning in an effort to offer additional housing near campus and in residential areas.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Raemi Eagle-Glenn Thursday to fill the District 1 seat, which she lost by about 62% to former commissioner Mary Alford in 2020.
The unanimous vote paves the way for the commission to later understand the approximate expenditure, revenue, economic impact and traffic impact for a sports complex on Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road.
Gainesville City Commission’s Thursday meeting was canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak among officials.
County Commissioner Mary Alford plans to resign after a May 13 Gainesville Sun investigation found her in violation of residency requirements.
Twenty-one days after city commissioners voted 6-0 to demolish and replace the historic Thelma A. Boltin Center, Mayor Lauren Poe deemed “People Saving Places” as Gainesville’s theme for National Preservation Month 2022. Residents are confused with the conflicting decisions.
A proposed sports complex in East Gainesville has reignited a fiery decades-long political debate on how to spur economic activity in the area.
City Commissioners voted 4-3 Thursday to repeal the open container policy which allowed individuals to drink and carry alcoholic beverages on public property and authorized businesses to serve alcohol in public, outdoor spaces..
The plan, Imagine GNV, is a collaborative effort between Gainesville neighbors and the city government. The plan lays out actions the city will take to address elements including racial inequity, affordable housing and education — an area that hasn’t been included in previous city plans. The plan is in the works with nine draft chapters published online.
Butler was elected into the city commission in 1969, becoming the first Black man elected to the body since Reconstruction, an era marked by post Civil War opportunities. Later, in 1971, he became the first Black Mayor to hold that office in 100 years. However, he wanted to be remembered for who he was rather than being the first.
With her hand on the Bible her mother gave her 49 years ago, Cynthia Chestnut repeated the oath of office during her City Commissioner swearing-in ceremony. On Thursday morning, Chestnut was sworn in as At-Large Seat B City Commissioner outside Gainesville City Hall after winning the special runoff election Jan. 25. The position will be a four-year term with elections every two years starting this year, according to a City of Gainesville press release.
Solutions by The State News
