Another Gainesville Starbucks is planned. Will neighbors complain about the location?
With more than 15 Starbucks locations in and around Gainesville, you're never too far from a piping hot cup of java or a refreshing iced tea. But just to be sure, there appears to be one more on the way.
A development plan filed with the City of Gainesville calls for the former bank building near Fresh Market at 4115 NW 16th Blvd. to be converted into a Starbucks with a drive-thru lane.
The plan follows a years-long debate over the development of the former St. Michael's Episcopal Church property in the Suburban Heights neighborhood just a few blocks west, at the corner of Northwest 23rd Street and Northwest 43rd Avenue.
A petition by area residents in March 2021 urged the City Commission not to approve plans for a mixed-use development that likely would have included a coffee shop and drive-thru.
"Imagine 294 more cars per day racing down Northwest 19th Avenue and Northwest 46th with a latte in hand on their way to Buchholz High School, Santa Fe College, work, practice or their place of worship," the petition said.
The Episcopal Diocese of Florida razed the church in December 2019 just ahead of a meeting where it was expected the building would be nominated as a historical landmark.
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Current plans for the St. Michael's property — which is in the process of being cleared — include more than 370,000 square feet of office space that investment company Colliers, on its website, says is suitable for "childcare facilities, medical uses, financial services, personal care services, veterinary care and business offices."
The listing says future tenants include Cox Media Group and Kids Street Urgent Care.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Starbucks plans a new NW Gainesville store. Here's the story.
