City of Gainesville, community partners celebrate milestone in East Gainesville
Press release from the City of Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A new intersection in East Gainesville is more than a network of streets, sidewalks, curbs, and concrete, as speakers noted today at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new roadway and infrastructure system at the Eastside Health and Economic Development Initiative (EHEDI) at Cornerstone.
“Today, we recognize not just the completion of infrastructure but the continuation of a promise — a promise to invest in the people, places, and potential of this great community,” said District 1 Gainesville City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker, who welcomed area leaders and guests at the event.
The City of Gainesville has transformed an overgrown, 21-acre municipal site west of Hawthorne Road into a gateway location with four construction-ready parcels. A new Regional Transit System (RTS) transfer station is expected to be built on the southwest parcel, beginning in mid-2026.
“I can see folks living in the apartments that the Hutchinson Foundation is building just a few blocks from here with the help of the City of Gainesville. I can see people living in existing homes in these neighborhoods around us. I can see people living in the two homes the Bright Community Trust is building with the help of the City of Gainesville, just a couple of blocks down the street. I can see them being able to take a short walk to the transit hub and get anywhere they want to go in this community, anywhere they want to go for work, for pleasure, or shopping,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward.
With the help of community partners Alachua County and University of Florida Health, the transformational project is designed to bring more economic development and amenities to East Gainesville.
“Projects like EHEDI at Cornerstone represent the kind of collaborative community focus and investment we need — bringing healthcare, transit, jobs, and food access directly to the neighborhoods that need it the most,” said Alachua County Board of County Commissioners Chair Chuck Chestnut. “Together, we can ensure the east side has a future that reflects the full potential of this community.”
The new roadway network includes the extension of Southeast 6th Avenue and the construction of Southeast 20th Street, which runs alongside the UF Health Urgent Care Center–Eastside and connects to Southeast 8th Avenue. The City and County each contributed $2.25 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds toward the healthcare facility.
“For us, this effort reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to services and helping to meet the needs of our community,” said UF Health Sr. Vice President and Greater Gainesville Regional President Michael Holmes. “From healthcare to transportation to education, and to employment and beyond, it takes all of us to have a healthy community.”
The extensive infrastructure beneath the roadways includes conduits for water, wastewater, stormwater, electrical, and street lighting, as well as utility connections and preliminary site work ready for new development. The infrastructure investment totaled $3.8 million.
“We have completed the groundwork for additional accessible healthcare, expanded services, improved transit, and walkable connections that support wellness at every level,” said Commissioner Duncan-Walker.
EHEDI at Cornerstone is a major redevelopment effort led by the City’s economic development department – the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area. Creating an equitable community for all — through equity and inclusion to services and businesses necessary for daily living — is a key principle of the City’s strategic plan.
I see things too…lots of things. Not necessarily what most would value in a community. Hope what they envision works out but given the environment, the populace, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Woooooo….Weeeeee! New roads! That will certainly bring much needed economic relief and JOBS to the area?
Well, will it commissioners?
As much time as I spend trying to see what the county and city are doing now, I never see a really public request for bids. I imagine the same consultants that are hired without bids state who the developers are going to be. Or are they just giving the job to the company that can tear out trees the fastest. The quality of our air is a crime. We can’t have clean air without trees and the brush that accompanies the trees. Gainesville the asphalt city with poorly built unattractive buildings.
Tear out trees? The air is just fine in Alachua County. Those concrete jungles of LA, NYC & Orlando not so much.
You should pull your head out and take a breath because the County has purchased plenty of green space.
“Well, it’s Groundhog Day… again…” — Bill Murray
Here are just some of the reasons economic development over here is unlikely: violent homeless people everywhere; trash and garbage strewn all over the roads; gang violence; murders; unsolved murders; theft; robbery; ridiculously loud music in cars; “nuisance” businesses where people hang out all the time selling drugs but nothing is ever done about it; crack houses, block parties that attract criminals, etc. Don’t believe me? Take a “joy” ride down East University Ave (past Waldo Road) or Hawthorne Road — especially during the week and at night.
How can you and I help?
Investment and attention is what’s needed not neglect and racism.
The Eastside milestone is likely to turn into a millstone around taxpayers necks when they neglect and tear up their new ‘oasis’.
Clowns are getting ready to raise property taxes by 15%.