During its regular meeting Tuesday, the Alachua County Commission board approved plans for an affordable housing project in East Gainesville and the town of Tioga that residents say will improve the quality of life there.
The goal of the East Gainesville Legacy Community Engagement Project is to build low-maintenance, affordable, market-rate housing on the county’s 13-acre property. The project also aims to reduce poverty and promote trails that are walkable for residents and cyclists.
The county wants to create “diverse architectural styles that minimize perceived mass traffic and complement adjacent neighborhoods,” said Candie Nixon, deputy director of community support services, at Tuesday’s meeting.
The goals were formulated during several meetings with East Gainesville residents and members of the East Gainesville Alliance. The project, which would focus on market-rate single-family housing and workforce creation, was approved at a commission meeting on May 28.
At the August 27 meeting, members of the East Gainesville community expressed concern for the community and said the project was critical to the area’s improvement.
“We need to give hope to the kids in our community. They need hope,” said Carrie Parker Warren, an East Gainesville resident, during a public hearing. “There is a connection between home ownership and gun violence and other things that are happening in our community.”
Residents believe that building affordable housing will provide a better future for children and parents.
The meeting also discussed bringing traditional credit unions and grocery stores to Gainesville’s east side.
“We need to create a board that wants to find businesses that want to come to the East Side, and I’m not talking about small businesses,” said DeJeon Cain, an East Gainesville resident. “I’m talking about Winn-Dixie, Publix, Florida Credit Union and Five-Star Credit Union that want to work together to make East Gainesville what we want it to be.”
County Commission Chair Mary Alford expressed her satisfaction with the proposal and its design.
“I like to hear when it’s about diversity in housing,” she said. “I like to hear when it’s not a one size fits all solution, I like to hear when it’s about energy efficiency, I like to hear when it’s about quality development, and that’s what we’re talking about, so I’m very excited about it.”
The Commissioners unanimously approved the proposal.
Like what you read? Get content from The Alligator in your inbox
Later in Tuesday’s meeting, the commission approved a development plan for the south addition to the Town of Tioga. The development would take place on a 200-plus acre site with the goal of creating traditional neighborhood developments, a village center, walkable areas and various types of housing.
In conjunction with the development plan, the commission proposed the creation of a northbound left-turn lane at Newberry Road and Southwest 136th Street, as well as several new roundabouts and intersections in the area.
According to Jay Brown, president and chief engineer of civil engineering company JBPro, the new infrastructure is intended to reduce traffic and ensure safer roads with fewer accidents.
The next regular meeting of the District Commission will be on September 10.
Contact Sofia Meyers at [email protected]. Follow her on X @SofiaMeyer84496.
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971. Your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider donating today.
