Alachua County begins transforming former Budget Inn and Scottish Inn for housing
Press release from Alachua County
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Renovations are officially underway at two former motels in Gainesville, marking a significant step in Alachua County’s effort to expand housing options for its most vulnerable residents.
The County anticipates that the former Budget Inn and Scottish Inns will be transformed into 67 permanent housing units by the end of September 2025.
This initiative is part of a best-practice model where older and underused motels and hotels are converted into affordable housing.
In 2021, the Alachua County Commission approved the purchase of the Budget Inn, followed by the acquisition of the adjacent Scottish Inns in 2023. Both properties were earmarked for conversion into permanent housing, with each renovation projected to cost about $4 million.
“Transforming motels into homes is a powerful step toward restoring dignity, stability, and hope for our most vulnerable residents,” said Claudia Tuck, director of Community Support Services.
About the Scottish Inns renovation
The renovation of the Scottish Inns, managed by Ulloa Management Group, will create 31 permanent housing units. Planned upgrades include new fire sprinkler systems; updated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure; new roofing; and the installation of bathrooms, kitchenettes, new flooring, windows, and doors.
About the Budget Inn renovation
Gray Construction Services is leading the transformation of the Budget Inn into 36 one-bedroom units. Each unit will feature a kitchenette, bathroom, bedroom, and small living space. A new fire sprinkler system will also be installed to meet safety standards and ensure the building is suitable for long-term residential use.
Fix the roads…
That dump will be destroyed in months. Look at any Section 8 property. People who get things for free do no upkeep or maintenance of their own. Complete waste of tax dollars.
SW 13th is a complete mess. From the extended stay hotels to the particle board apartments to the homeless encampments
(Now “homes”) to the seedy retail outlets to the billion dollar UFHealth campus. It’s a disgrace.
Ready by the end of September, trashed by the end of the year.
~$120K cost per unit, correct?
That is just for remodeling. Buying the worn out properties were millions more. I think that the total taxpayer cost is around $273,000 per unit. Way more than basic new, small housing.
Wow, there’s 240k adults that live in alachua county iirc so that’s interesting 🤔
County governments typically avoid providing high-end housing for the homeless for several practical, economic, and policy reasons:
1. Cost-effectiveness and budget constraints: High-end housing is expensive to build and maintain. Counties often operate with limited budgets, and using those funds for luxury accommodations may reduce the number of people they can help overall. The goal is usually to maximize assistance within financial limits.
2. Public perception and political backlash: Providing high-end housing to the homeless can lead to significant public and political criticism. Taxpayers may see it as an unfair or inefficient use of public money, particularly if they themselves struggle with housing costs.
3. Mission focus: The primary goal of homelessness programs is to provide safe, stable, and functional housing that meets basic needs. High-end features (luxury finishes, prime real estate, etc.) are not necessary for achieving housing stability.
4. Sustainability: High-end housing often has higher long-term maintenance and operational costs. Affordable or supportive housing models are designed to be financially sustainable over time.
5. Equity and fairness: Providing luxury housing to the homeless, while many working families or low-income individuals cannot afford basic housing, can raise ethical concerns about fairness and prioritization of resources.
That said, investing in quality housing (not necessarily high-end) that is dignified, safe, and supportive is important. Poor-quality housing can perpetuate cycles of homelessness and health issues.
Okay ChatGPT
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Hope you idiots are happy with what your taxes are paying for, AND they already gave notice – they intend to buy more hotels in the future.
Save the residents, (those of us who pay taxes and care how our money is spent), some taxes and invite some of the homeless to your homes until they are able to get on their feet.
Those of you who voted and continue to vote for such fiscal incompetence; you people are idiots.
Better build a police sub station.
ASO can park the “rook” on the premesis for the convenience of having to use it to make entry and extract hostages.
The county isn’t going to tear down its own building. They only use the rook on private property. Less destructive methods are available and such equipment is often gifted to local law enforcement directly from the US Dept of War.
The Active Denial System (ADS) produces scalding heat, while the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) bombards targets with painful, intense sound.
Is it limited to LOCAL homeless only? Will there be security access limits?
I feel sorry for the Kirkwood neighborhood nearby. Meridian and court lawyers only benefit from attracting homeless here.
🤑🤑🤑🤑
“Build it a they will come”.
New plug on deck; meth, fent, crack, pot, oxy, and of course prostitution. One stop shop, whatever you need coming soon!!
It’s just one more thing to help Lil Kenny feel like he’s finally “a big man.” And the trio of old maggot-infested witches always go along with him. It would be a lot cheaper to send him to a good psychiatrist. They will have it filled with vagrants by the start of UF’s fall semester, ready to start harassing students and victimizing them even more than they are now… isn’t that great.
Pan handlers at all the lights at that exit to TRIPLE post move-in. Helpful to have your home so close to your… err… “work.” Oh, the poor folks who frequent Sonny’s restaurant and waffle house should prepare for petty theft, car break-ins and shake down pan handlers in their parking lots, too. When did giving people free things translate to “compassion.” Give a man a fish, versus teach a man to fish. But if the man don’t give a damn about fishing and is happy with the handout = Alachua County strategy.
4 months and they just started today?
and its governt work?
nah bud
Can Alachua please get their roads fixed please !!