Florida Construction News staff writer
The Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) and the City of Gainesville have been awarded a $500,000 Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The application was one of 14 chosen nationwide through competitive process, and included a “transformation plan” to revitalize GHA’s Pine Meadows and Lake Terrace properties in east Gainesville near Fred Cone Park.
“The grant represents a golden opportunity to uplift our community and bring about lasting positive change,” said Pamela Davis, CEO of the GHA. “We are excited to work alongside the City of Gainesville, our residents, neighbors and community partners to create an implementable plan that will bring a brighter future for our community.”
The strategic partnership between the GHA and the city is being called a significant step toward transforming the East University Avenue neighborhood.
“I’m thrilled for our entire community, and particularly for east Gainesville,” said Mayor Ward. “This is exactly the sort of transformational opportunity I had in mind when I made the motion nearly two years ago for the city to partner with the Gainesville Housing Authority. It’s the kind of visionary, working relationship that HUD tends to reward and that will change thousands of lives for the better in our city.”
The application earned 90 of 104 points – scored on factors including need, soundness of approach and leverage for planning. The two-year plan includes opportunities to engage residents and community stakeholders in creating a vision for the East University Avenue neighborhood.
Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans to replace distressed public housing or other HUD-assisted housing with high-quality, mixed-income housing. Transformation plans must focus on directing resources to address three core goals: housing, people and neighborhood.
More information is available on HUD’s website.
