City to Host Industry Forum to Seek Ideas to Develop Affordable Housing on City-Owned Lots

February 17, 2020

Press release from City of Gainesville

The City of Gainesville is implementing a pilot Land Donation Program that is designed to extend and strengthen partnerships with nonprofit organizations to develop affordable housing throughout the city. For that reason, the city has implemented a pilot program to donate city-owned residential parcels to nonprofit organizations for the development of new affordable housing. Prior to issuing a solicitation for nonprofit organizations to participate in the pilot program, the city is conducting an Industry Forum for the purpose of gathering ideas, feedback, input and other information related to the solicitation.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Where: GRU Multipurpose Room, 301 SE Fourth Ave.

The City of Gainesville is proposing to donate 12 lots located in the Duval Neighborhood (Northeast Ninth Avenue, near Northeast 16th Terrace and Northeast 17th Street). See locations below:

Over the next several years, the City of Gainesville also has plans to implement improvements to parks and community centers in the Duval Area, including the Clarence R. Kelly Community Center, Duval Park and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Complex. Together, these redevelopment initiatives will create positive, visible change and momentum in the Duval Neighborhood.

In addition, to the Industry Forum for the Land Donation Program, at this meeting, the city will provide information about and seek input and feedback regarding the city’s proposed Housing Action Plan (HAP) and State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP).

Housing Action Plan (HAP): a city-initiated project to identify regulatory and funding strategies to address housing related problems such as lack of affordable housing, lack of fair housing, gentrification, concentration of affordable housing in certain areas and neighborhood preservation.
LHAP: each year the State of Florida distributes State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program funds to the City of Gainesville to increase access to affordable housing. In addition, every three years, the state requires cities and counties that receive SHIP funds to submit a LHAP. The LHAP describes in detail the city programs and strategies for which the city plans to use SHIP funds.

To request additional information or to RSVP, please contact Phimetto Lewis at lewispd@cityofgainesville.org or 393-8862.