Construction starts on The Streatery downtown
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Road repair and renovations to SW First Avenue between South Main Street and SW Second Street – known as The Streatery – are underway. Construction is expected to continue through October. The project will transform this designated downtown corridor into a curbless, pedestrian-only street for hosting art and music festivals, farmers markets, and other events.
“I’m thrilled that we can get started this week. This will make Downtown more accessible, more usable and more fun for all of us,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey L. Ward. “The Streatery will be a boost to Gainesville’s overall economic development.”
When complete, the thoroughfare will include outdoor lighting, seating, landscaping, electrical outlets for food trucks, and other amenities.
“I am excited about The Streatery construction getting started. It’s gonna be awesome,” said Danny Hughes, owner of Loosey’s Downtown Gainesville. “We want customers to know we’re open, and we’ll do our best to make sure everyone knows the best way to get to us while the construction is happening.”
Crews will begin fencing off areas as they prepare to replace underground electrical, water, and stormwater infrastructure in two phases beneath The Streatery and two intersecting streets.
During phase one, when SW Second Street will be closed, SW First Street will remain open and serve as a construction detour for traffic exiting Lot 13. During phase two, which is expected to begin in July, SW Second Street will reopen. Southwest First Street will close, and Lot 13 traffic will be routed west.
“Along The Streatery, we’ll replace all the curbs and uneven roadway surfaces with brick pavers to create a wide, ADA-accessible space,” said interim Chief Operating Officer Brian Singleton. “To improve pedestrian safety, we’ll also add raised intersections at SW First and Second Streets, incorporating some historic bricks from the project.”
With the phased approach, the Spring Market Series – on hiatus the weekend of April 17 – resumes along SW First Avenue for its final two weekends, April 24-26 and May 1-3. The Streatery is surrounded by more than 2,000 parking spaces in Downtown Gainesville, and parking downtown is free on the weekends and City-observed holidays (except in the Southwest Parking Garage at 105 SW Third Street and in designated spaces).
In March 2026, the Gainesville City Commission unanimously approved a $4.5 million construction agreement with D.E. Scorpio Corporation for The Streatery, funded by the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) and the gas tax fund.
The GCRA is a 10-year program (2019-2029) administered by the City of Gainesville and funded by the City and Alachua County with the goal of enhancing economic development through long-term and place-based projects and programs.
Construction of The Streatery supports the City’s vision for a vibrant, welcoming, and thriving downtown as outlined in the Downtown Gainesville Strategic Plan.
This is a lovely idea. But are the rest of the roads fixed? Just asking.
4.5 million taxpayer dollars down the drain. Anyone want to go have lunch or dinner with the bums, drug addicts, and mentally ill?
Can’t wait for the famous street performers – Window Smash, Mr. Flash, and Gimme Cash.
I try to avoid going downtown because of the parking… I got a parking ticket from that parking company that some places are using there…
I went inside Wells Fargo bank and made a deposit in the morning that took 2 minutes…I got a ticket that said I was there like 12hrs demznding like $140…it was hard reaching that company and returned their demand letters saying they were wrong and I was not there 12 hours…finally called the phone number and thought I got a live person but they wanted me to hear a recorded message that they were a collection agency…I stopped getting the demand letters…other customers of the bank have also received parking tickets while doing business at the bank during banking hours…
There needs to be more free street parking. I bet the brick and mortar restaurants who pay huge rent and payrolls are not happy about a food truck setting up down from them taking their business…
Downtown parking is free on the weekends and city-observed holidays (except in the Southwest Parking Garage at 105 SW 3rd St. and in designated spaces). Free parking 24/7 in Lots 2, 3 and 4. See the map at https://www.gainesvillefl.gov/Government-Pages/Government/Departments/Transportation/Downtown-Parking
Parking enforcement is M-F, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Payment accepted through the website, PassportParking.com, by phone: 352-290-3700, or the Passport app.
I received one of those tickets for parking my car with a handicapped license plate in a handicapped parking space. After not paying, I was told my car would be towed if it was seen again. Gainesville has a law that says that cars with handicapped tags can park for free. This has been 2 years ago. I live close to downtown, am retired and I used to eat at Harry’s, Liquid Ginger, and Z Pizza at least once or twice a week. I haven’t been back since.
Harry’s and Liquid Ginger are great – DK Z Pizza
Don’t know about DK Z Piza.
But will agree Liquid Ginger is very good.
Loosey’s is good and cheap bar food, the french place around the corner is good, and of course Dragonfly is very popular (I don’t like Sushi). The Top is varied and good. Sorry Hogtown Barbecue closed and nothing can last more than a year at the jinxed location at 1st and Main, even when good. Emiliano’s regrettably retired. Boca Fiesta, Amelia’s, Mark’s Prime are all worthy destinations.
Patrons, prepare to be harassed by panhandlers violently seeking free food no longer available at the ex-St. Francis House located across the street from the SCUMMY new courthouses nearby 💩👿👹🤡👺
now u can get a sandwich med weed and hard drugs all in one place plus a parking ticket
Bullwinkle, I agree that the parking downtown is not good and there should be more free spots. However, the app for paying – while a pain you have to download it – is exceedingly easy to use and cheap, if you have a cell phone.
As to the rest of the comments, these are from people who obviously never go downtown and are afraid of their shadows. I go regularly for music and dining and have no issues, am not acisted by panhandlers who have mostly left for Grace, nor is the area or restaurants dirty. The crowd is clean and safe and plentiful at most hours – families, couples, dressed for nice night out – the restaurants among the best in the area, and musival events at bars and the Plaza and thetre and film at the Hipp. Those staying way are missing a unique, historic, and fun locale with plenty of reasons to visit. Your loss.
As to the Streatery, I don’t get it and don’t like it. We have Bo Diddley Plaza a block away and we also have the parking lot across from Loosey’s with the large oaks sitting there wasted for decades now that could be a public space if we really needed another there. Too late as this idea is in progress, but I don’t know why.
Jazz: don’t however me you jackass!
It was not a pay lot during my hours! No need to pay anything at the banks parking garage! You can be such an A-hole! There system failed, and gave me a ticket!
I parked legally at Wells Fargo bank and it’s free at 9:30 am…I got a ticket while legally parked at the bank and can read the signs. That parking companies cameras said I was there until 9pm…it malfunctioned!!!!
The bank manager got a ticket and she works there, and so have other banking customers!
I was inside the bank 2 minutes..don’t tell me about using that app. I want nothing to do with that rip/off business…so, I don’t go to anyplace that uses that parking company. If it happened to you, you would know.
There was some free street parking by the courthouse and the city sold the lot to Trimark to build apartments or something…just south there’s a few spots by that
Convenience store with the bums
And feel my vehicle will be broken in to or I will be robbed…
There are better restaurants around than those in downtown Gainesville. I would rather spend my money in St. Augustine.
Gee, sorry I tried to be civil with you bull, even when your problem had nothing to do with the larger issues of parking downtown.
GFY
PS Get the parking app for free and pay next to nothing painlessly all over downtown – or go to St Augustine, which is not an easy parking spot.
Hey, why don’t you move there?
The app is not a solution.
Lots of people who are older or can’t afford a fancy phone do not have the ability to use the app.
Also, I shouldn’t have to pay to use government services or even talk to a commission.
There are free spaces if you walk further. Yes, you have to have a cell phone and plan to use the free app with cheap rates, but that is quickly becoming must have and cheaper than a landline.
I wish parking was free downtown but it isn’t and for those of us – almost all – with the phone, it is not difficult or expensive to use the app and more convenient than carrying quarters.
Downtown parking is free on the weekends and city-observed holidays (except in the Southwest Parking Garage at 105 SW 3rd St. and in designated spaces). Free parking 24/7 in Lots 2, 3 and 4. See the map at https://www.gainesvillefl.gov/Government-Pages/Government/Departments/Transportation/Downtown-Parking
Parking enforcement is M-F, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Payment accepted through the website, PassportParking.com, by phone: 352-290-3700, or the Passport app.
I should not have to pay for the privilege of accessing government services down town.
Enough money is taken from me in other taxes.
I am there to conduct business. Not enjoy a sandwich.
I don’t care if it’s 50 cents. It’s wrong.
There are spaces along SE 1st Street (between University Avenue and SE 1st Avenue) that are free from 10AM-5PM, M-F, with a 30 minute time limit for government access.
Have you ever tried using a walker or wheelchair on bricks or pavers? Besides are there enough handicapped parking spaces meeting ADA requirements for this group of people to enjoy Harvey Wards utopia? This ain’t New Orleans or Riverwalk, folks.
People from out of town can’t even stay at downtown hotels without being immediately and constantly harassed by Gainesville’s out of control homeless population.
The city will never have a thriving or vibrant downtown as long as it is filled with the violent, drug-addicted homeless that Harvey Ward and the rest of the corrupt imbeciles in local government purposefully attract to our city.
BS. I go dowtown all the time and have never been approached by a pan handler. Apparently neither have the thousands of other people there on a Friday and Saturday nights.
Many people have no problem stepping around sleeping hobos to get to their favorite bar or restaurant. Its just part of downtown’s “urban vibe” that the city commission expects us to tolerate.
Sadly, we’re much less frequent visitors these days. The food and entertainment just isn’t special enough to drive past other options and deal with downtown’s accumulated annoyances on a regular basis.
There are no sleeping hobos downtown. If there were, it would not be packed with well dressed citizens of all ages walking the streets, going to concerts in the Plaza, events at the Hipp, and frequenting the restaurants which are among the region’s best.
I went to the restaurant on the Streatery street. Before I walked in a thug on a bike rode up and blocked me from going in. Luckily he left quickly after I started calling the police. Think I will pass on going back
Relevant:
“Gainesville earned a top-10 ranking as a college town in the U.S. by RentCafe, a national apartment real estate website.
RentCafe released its 2026 Best College Towns ranking on April 2, and Gainesville finished at No. 5 in the nation—a two-spot drop from the 2025 ranking. While the city slid two spots overall, it remains the South’s second-best-ranked college town behind Clemson, South Carolina.
RentCafe cited Gainesville’s affordable education, urban aesthetic and young population as rationale for the ranking…
“The largest of our top-ranking cities, this Florida gem is home to a highly ranked institution, yet it still offers affordable education with the University of Florida posting the lowest average tuition and fees in our top 10 ($5,540 for in-state students),” the website said. “Furthermore, as a larger city, Gainesville offers an urban feel and hosts a more extensive community, yet still ranks well for livability with a good natural amenity rank and air quality.”