The Gainesville City Commission voted Thursday to buy a 51-acre piece of land for conservation and to sell, once again, the old fire station off South Main Street.
The City Commission also discussed the possibility of transferring Citizens Field to the School Board of Alachua County. At a joint meeting with the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC), the boards directed their staff to discuss a partnership on Citizens Field.
City Manager Cynthia Curry said she has had two meetings with SBAC Superintendent Kamela Patton. But those meetings hit a stalemate, she said.
The school board wants to know if the city would ever transfer ownership of Citizens Field—the only way to spend SBAC capital dollars. Meanwhile, Curry said the city needs some vision or document for how the school board wants to use the stadium. Then city staff can work from that document.
Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut spoke against the idea of transferring ownership or at least discussing the possibility so early. She said the city hasn’t even heard the full report from its consultants on what options for the 8th Avenue and Waldo Road complex would look like and cost.
She added that Eastside residents have finally gotten behind the city’s vision and believe something will happen on the site. She said that some trust isn’t fully in the school board and added that SBAC would need to spell out every detail in a transfer of ownership.
“You’d have to show a lot to have the voter confidence that Eastside neighbors would fully believe that you’re going to follow through,” Chestnut said.
SBAC Board Member Tina Certain said that the district, since receiving extra funding for capital projects, has shown that it delivers top-notch projects. She added that she would like to see Citizens Field remain the home stadium for Gainesville’s three public high schools as a boost to economic development in the area.
Certain said the school district must have stadiums, and two schools have already petitioned to build their own near the schools.
Certain said that would still leave Gainesville High School without enough room to build its own stadium.
Patton said the plan would likely include a larger stadium with the option to host track and field events.
Commission Casey Willits said he would support transferring Citizens Field if it meant getting an extra $10 million or more dollars toward the project that the city is already pursuing.
He and other commissioners said they would want to know details like how long SBAC would commit to keeping high school sports on the site and that the city could still use the property for events.
Mayor Harvey Ward likened the project to a mall who wants to make sure they have an anchor tenant before building. He said the school district is that anchor tenant for the entire 8th Avenue and Waldo Road complex.
Certain said if the terms stay the same as they are now—around $1 for a 20-year lease—she said any school board would accept. If those terms change with a new stadium, she said the entire board would need to weigh in on the terms.
Patton said the school district can return with its vision for the site that will get clearer over time, but that could be enough for city staff to evaluate, amend and start working on.
Still, Chestnut said she doesn’t want any proposal to come before June when the city’s consultants present their report.
“I don’t want to raise your expectations, and I don’t want to confuse the public,” Chestnut said to the SBAC representatives.
On the conservation land, the city decided to move forward with the purchase of 51 acres (parcel 08231-000-000) bordering the south side of NE 39th Avenue. The estimated cost is $1.5 million, making it the largest city purchase with tree mitigation funds.
The property has high quality urban forest, according to the city arborist, and he said the plan is to build trails for the public.
The property is developable but inside a FEMA flood zone and the protection area for the Murphree Water Treatment Plant.
Ward said the water component is key. The purchase helps secure Gainesville’s drinking water, he said. City staff added that the site will likely be within the primary protection boundary for the wellfield within a decade.
The City Commission also voted to try and sell the old fire station on South Main Street.
The city first tried to have a public-private partnership, but after an interest meeting, no one came forward. The next attempt was to sell the property with a minimum price of $3.16 million, but the city also received no bids.
The building is not up to code and would likely take a good deal of money to either demolish or bring up to code.
City staff recommended setting a minimum price of $1 million. Commissioners agreed that the property needs to be sold, sitting unused for at least 8 years.
Commissioner Bryan Eastman put forward a proposal to set a minimum price of $1.5 million and place it for public bid. The motion passed unanimously.
51 acres is just right for Disgrace Market Place. Go Harvey, GO!
Fund the homeless lifestyle.
Actually I believe that’s mile ir two from the shelter.
Put your shoes on …
But some don’t fit others 🤔 shoes
The NE 39th Ave conservation land should be mostly fenced off, to protect the groundwater. Only use a tiny sliver for trails and possible foot traffic, debris pickup from illegal campers off trail. That’ll reduce the area of maintenance every week, as that site is so close to unofficial GRACE homeless campers.
The S. Main old fire station could be retrofitted as residential by adding steel framed stories above it, with modular units put in each floor spaced apart and noise shielded from each other. Very cheaply, too. Allow flowering vines to cover its multilevel exterior, to blend in with environment. And sell each unit to occupants (no renter allowed).
Shame the old fire station can’t be added to St Francis House
There are several reasons why some argue that City of Gainesvile or Alachua County should stop purchasing property and removing it from the tax rolls:
1. Loss of Tax Revenue
• When governments buy property, it often becomes tax-exempt, meaning it no longer generates property tax revenue. This can strain budgets, especially in areas that rely heavily on property taxes to fund schools, public safety, infrastructure, and other services.
2. Shrinking the Tax Base
• As more land is removed from the tax rolls, the burden to fund public services shifts to a smaller pool of taxpayers, potentially increasing taxes for residents and businesses that remain on the rolls.
3. Private Development Incentives
• Keeping property in private hands may encourage development, investment, and economic activity. Government ownership can sometimes lead to underutilization or slow redevelopment.
4. Opportunity Cost
• Government-held land may not always be used in the most productive way. Vacant or underused public properties could otherwise support housing, jobs, or commercial activity if held by private owners.
5. Government Overreach Concerns
• Some see extensive public property acquisition as a form of overreach, where the government exerts too much control over land use and reduces market-driven growth. Just pass zoning laws to protect the property and keep the property from leaving the taxes rolls.
I b I d $1.00 for the old firestation….
Make ie up to code with those who have to do community work services.
Comedy
Religious
Learning to cook
“” “” ” live peaceful ✌🏻
Start 4 days edl.
Early
Daylight
Late
Pick up a few ideas.
No one on the planet can ever do anything by them – selves.
Go humanity ❤️ 👏