Alachua County moves forward with plans for single-family homes on 13 acres in east Gainesville

The Alachua County Commission on Tuesday approved the next step in its East Gainesville Legacy Project, unanimously approving staff's recommendation to advertise for a developer for a 13-acre site across from Lincoln Park.

Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler was absent from Tuesday's meeting.

The land, at the corner of Southeast Eighth Avenue and Southeast 15th Street, was once the planned site of a $25 million affordable housing project spearheaded by Jacksonville-based Ability Housing and backed by a "highly competitive" state grant.

Ability Housing bought the property for $1.8 million with plans to build a 96-unit development known as Dogwood Village. The commission, however, pulled its support for the project following a 3-2 vote in January 2023 after angry area residents asked commissioners why they would approve more low-income housing in an area that already lacks grocery stores, health care and reliable transportation.

Facing a potential lawsuit from Ability Housing, the county eventually agreed to purchase the land later that year for $2.9 million.

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A meeting between the East Gainesville Alliance and residents on what they would like to see built at the site determined that single-family homes was the overwhelming favorite, followed by mixed-use development and recreational uses.

The East Gainesville Legacy Project is being billed as workforce housing, with market rate, single-family homes at various priced income levels. According to Tuesday's staff presentation, as part of the Request for Proposal, (RFP) the county could decide to provide the land at no cost to the winning developer, helping to reduce some of the housing costs, as well as offer potential support for underground infrastructure.

Also included in the RFP is that the developer will offer diverse architectural styles, use energy-efficient construction materials and systems, and build durable, low-maintenance homes and landscaping.

"As someone who has helped design neighborhoods, I love to hear diversity of housing, I love to hear no cookie-cutter, I love to hear energy efficiency, I love to hear quality development, and that's what we're talking about," Commissioner Mary Alford said.

During public comment, one common thread centered on the fact that the RPF didn't clearly refer to the planned dwellings as detached single-family homes as opposed to condos or townhomes.

Commissioners Anna Prizzia and Ken Cornell, however, made it clear that just because a developer submits a plan, commissioners don't have to accept it, and that they are expected to engage with the community to best determine what is desired on the site.

"They (developers) can submit whatever they want. But the community and this commission is going to grade these RFPs based on what we have heard over the last year and what we will continue to hear," Cornell said.

Third-generation local builder Raymond Mobley asked during public comment if local minority builders, who typically can't take part in RFPs of this nature due to insurance and bond requirements, could collaborate with other local builders to submit a proposal for the project.

"We don't want to just be here. We want to be a part of what's making our community better," Mobley said.

Commissioners agreed with Mobley's sentiments, with Cornell adding to the final motion that local builders who plan to collaborate on the project be given additional consideration. Cornell also added to the motion that additional points, if possible, be given to minority-owned businesses.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Alachua County moves forward with plans for single-family homes on 13 acres in east Gainesville