October 3, 2024

Housing Finance Development

It's Your Housing Finance Development

Gainesville commission speaks out on county reversal of housing project

Gainesville commission speaks out on county reversal of housing project

Heartless. Offensive. Unimaginable. Disappointing. Irresponsible. Unconscionable.

Those are just some of the choice words Gainesville commissioners used to describe their thoughts on their county counterparts’ decision to pull out of a $25 million affordable housing project planned in east Gainesville.

On Dec. 13, the Alachua County Commission voted 3-2 to withdraw its funding from the Dogwood Village project that was planned for the corner of Southeast Eighth Avenue and Southeast 15th Street, next to Lincoln Middle School. After listening to public outcry over the plans, county leaders agreed it should be moved more westward, citing that roughly 85% of affordable housing was already located in east Gainesville.

But that’s not how city leaders see it.

“It was disappointing to see hundreds of people from getting a home,” Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos said. “That’s what the county decided to do.”

Gainesville commissioners express their disappointment with an Alachua County Commission decision to pull out of the Dogwood Village affordable housing project during its Dec. 15 City Commission meeting.

More:County seeks permission to move $25 million affordable housing project in east Gainesville

More:County votes to withdraw support for affordable housing project in east Gainesville

The 96-unit housing project was being spearheaded by the Jacksonville-based nonprofit Ability Housing, which purchased the roughly 6.3 acres for $1.8 million, conveniently located next to the city of Gainesville’s Heartwood homes development. The project was intended to provide workforce housing for those who cannot afford market rates.

link