County officers will quickly weigh whether or not to permit a controversial inexpensive housing undertaking to be inbuilt east Gainesville after beforehand voting the undertaking down final month.
In the event that they don’t, the consequences may very well be pricey.
On Dec. 13, the Alachua County Fee voted 3-2 to withdraw its funding from the $25 million Dogwood Village housing undertaking deliberate for the nook of Southeast Eighth Avenue and Southeast fifteenth Road in Gainesville. The fee additionally sought a brand new location for the 96-unit workforce housing complicated however have been unable to take action.
Commissioners will focus on the undertaking as soon as extra Tuesday after being warned by the developer that taxpayers can be on the hook for roughly $15 million if the unique plans don’t undergo.
“There’s been numerous guarantees of improvement in east Gainesville … and we have to begin to see these tasks come to fruition so the residents can see we’re critical,” mentioned Commissioner Anna Prizzia.
Earlier protection:Gainesville leaders take purpose at county’s reversal on inexpensive housing undertaking
Earlier protection:County seeks permission to maneuver $25 million inexpensive housing undertaking in east Gainesville
Over the previous few years, Gainesville and Alachua County elected leaders agreed to get rid of boundaries of its Neighborhood Redevelopment Company in hope of spurring extra improvement in east Gainesville. An inexpensive housing belief fund was established and the just lately handed Wild Areas Public Locations poll referendum additionally included inexpensive housing as an allowable expense.
Residents, nonetheless, have spoken out towards practically each inexpensive housing plan introduced ahead by metropolis and county leaders regardless of being confronted with a housing disaster that has exacerbated rental and house owner costs − a problem additionally felt nationwide.
County officers argue this undertaking is completely different and are working to alter the narrative of what inexpensive housing seems like.
“Individuals are at all times afraid of what they do not know, and the unknown may be unsettling,” Prizzia mentioned.
Having a workforce housing part signifies that middle-income residents would have extra choices in east Gainesville. They in any other case can be trying westward, the place they’ve been priced out of the housing market. It might additionally place them instantly subsequent to the town’s Heartwood single-family housing improvement.
The added incomes and inhabitants density might entice extra companies to open store in east Gainesville, one thing residents and officers have largely unanimously argued for many years is badly wanted.
Some residents who spoke out towards the undertaking requested why the county would take into account “low-income” housing in an space that lacks dependable transportation, grocery shops and well being care.
That part of city, nonetheless, has seen delicate adjustments through the years, with extra anticipated. Gainesville officers just lately struck an settlement with College of Florida Well being to construct a neighborhood pressing care facility close by. Additionally they authorized a switch of land from UF to the town in order that it might construct an already-funded transit station a couple of blocks away.
The placement can also be alongside a number of transit routes and, in contrast to most east Gainesville neighborhoods, is conveniently positioned inside 2 miles of three completely different grocery chains, a number of banks and pharmacies.
A type of who sided with the outspoken residents was Commissioner Ken Cornell, who mentioned 85% of inexpensive housing was already positioned in east Gainesville.
However knowledge supplied by the College of Florida’s Shimberg Heart exhibits solely 65% of inexpensive housing is positioned on the east facet, with 35% within the west. The info is additional off when trying countywide, exhibiting simply 46% of inexpensive housing is in jap Alachua County.
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler, who beforehand voted towards the undertaking, mentioned that she wished to guarantee that the county exhausted all efforts to take a look at various options whereas additionally empowering the voices of group members and taking note of their issues.
She mentioned that if the undertaking comes again for a vote that she can have extra data obtainable to make an informed choice.
“This is a crucial choice to be made for our county,” she mentioned.
The place does the cash come from?
Funding for the undertaking is generally coming from a extremely aggressive $15 million grant from the Florida Housing Finance Company (FHFC) program. That cash was given to Capability Housing, a statewide chief in constructing inexpensive houses. One other $460,000 was to be evenly cut up by a neighborhood match from Alachua County authorities and the county’s housing finance authority.
Following the county’s vote to withdraw its help and failing to seek out one other allowable location for the undertaking, Capability Housing despatched a letter to the county saying that the FHFC has given the group till Jan. 27 to resolve whether or not to maneuver ahead with the plans. If not, the cash should be returned and the county can be added to a listing of ineligible recipients for related funding for the following couple years.
Capability Housing additionally instructed that the county can be on the hook for $15 million − funds it says have been expended on the planning of the undertaking thus far. That determine, nonetheless, may very well be up for debate.
As a result of the undertaking is funded with public {dollars}, Prizzia mentioned, locals have extra of a say within the strategy of what will get constructed.
The zoning for the land at present permits for a developer to construct as much as 200 models on the property.
Metropolis commissioners beforehand expressed their disapproval of county officers rejecting the plan, with some calling it “irresponsible” and “heartless” for eradicating a housing possibility for as much as 300 folks.
The County Fee will focus on the difficulty at its Tuesday common assembly at 5 p.m. at county administration constructing’s Jack Durrance board room, positioned at 12 SE First St. in Gainesville.
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