Matthew Hurst: Save money, save historic brick road in Downtown Gainesville’s ‘Streatery’

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Letter to the editor

The City of Gainesville proposes spending $3.2 million to replace historic brick roads with “broom-swept” concrete or fake brick pavers in the “Streatery,” a two-block area downtown, on SW 1st Avenue, just west of Main Street. The project would potentially close the area to the public for a year and cost $3.2 million

My concerns are that the project: 1) would remove durable and historic “Augusta Block” bricks; 2) would close the area for reconstruction for about a year; 3) is a significant expense; 4) has a lack of clarity as to its purpose. My proposed solution is to do basic maintenance, like digging up and releveling bricks as needed, and cancel the rest of the project.

Purpose of Project in Question:

The City still has not settled basic questions about the goals of the project. Do they want to keep it as a closed pedestrian area or reopen it to vehicles and diagonal parking? Do they want it to be an outdoor nightclub with live music and a stage or a quieter space at night? Do they want to encourage or discourage routine food trucks? Do they want open-container alcohol consumption or not? Do they want street furniture in the center, along the edges, or not at all? Do they want a playground installed?

Historic Bricks vs Modern Fake Brick Pavers:
Some people have noted the historic Augusta Block bricks have a slightly curved or. beveled edge. Many modern pavers used in sidewalks also have a beveled edge by design. Beveled edges lead to slight gaps at the street surface, which in turn may reduce trip hazards if bricks or pavers are not perfectly level.  

History:
These “Augusta Block” brick roads and granite curbs were installed in 10 Florida cities – including Gainesville – in the early 1900s up to the 1930s. The bricks are made of hardened, “vitrified” clay, fired at a higher temperature and for a longer time than ordinary building bricks. They have withstood over a century of cars and large trucks. They have outlasted many more modern paving materials, such as asphalt or concrete, and if left there, would continue to do so.

In 2020, the City closed the two-block area to vehicle traffic so people could eat or gather outside. The idea proved popular, so the City decided to keep it that way indefinitely.

The City Commission has discussed the “Streatery” for over four years but still has not answered the basic questions noted above – mainly, whether they even want to keep the street closed to vehicle use.

My Proposed Solution:
The City could cancel the project, save the $3.2 million, save the historic brick roads, and instead do basic maintenance for much less. Where subsurface settling has caused dips in the brick road, the bricks could be dug up and re-seated. Where sidewalks have become uneven, they could be leveled. Improvements in lighting could proceed as planned. Removable bollards could return it to a street with angled parking during business days and closed to vehicle traffic for weekends or special occasions. 

All of this could be done without a major reconstruction and without removing the historic “Augusta Block” bricks.

The City recently approved a design contract for over $160k, despite uncertainty about the overall purpose. This is one step of many; the project will continue to be discussed at future meetings.

If you share our concerns, please email the City Commissioners at citycomm@gainesvillefl.gov.

Please see the references listed below for additional information.

Sincerely,
Matthew Hurst, Gainesville

References:

A) Background Documents on Augusta Block brick roads:

1)  “Hidden History: Augusta Block Bricks” – Tampa, FL
https://www.modernglobe.com/hidden-history-augusta-block-bricks/

2)  “The story behind St. Pete’s Augusta Block brick streets” – St Petersburg, FL
https://ilovetheburg.com/the-story-behind-st-petes-augusta-block-brick-streets/

B) City of Gainesville Documents on the proposed “Streatery”

1) Agenda Item for Thursday, February 20, 2025
https://pub-cityofgainesville.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=de079063-8287-40f9-9761-088bac8393cc&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=68&Tab=attachments

2) Here is the link to the City of Gainesville’s conceptual document from August 2024:
 “File Memo – August 28, 2024 – Streatery Conceptual Plans”
https://pub-cityofgainesville.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=101395

Under the heading “Concept Plan Infrastructure Scope,” the second item reads: “Broom finished concrete paving patterns with brick paver accents; alternatively historical bricks can be re-introduced for an additional $0.46 million”

3) A presentation dated Jan 21, 2025 does not mention keeping the original bricks.
https://pub-cityofgainesville.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=101394

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