Gainesville Housing Authority to update residents on status of HUD grant
East Gainesville residents are urged to participate in the planning process for the construction of new housing and neighborhood improvements.
They can do so by attending a workshop to be held by the City of Gainesville and East University Ave Choice Neighborhood Plan from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Carmel Baptist Church at 2505 NE Eighth Ave.
The workshop will be led by Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, GHA residents and administrators and others.
“This provides the city with a holistic approach to transform the public housing and the neighborhood around public housing,” said Malcolm Kiner, GHA’s chief operating officer. “We want all of our neighbors to come, family members, and business owners to come. Anybody who has an interest in the east Gainesville corridor can come to share their wishes and what they would like to see in the neighborhood.”
The housing authority and the city of Gainesville were awarded a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the federal government to create a plan to redevelop GHA’s Lake Terrace and Pine Meadows properties and improve the surrounding East University Avenue neighborhood. The Choice Neighborhood includes Duval Heights and North Lincoln Heights.
The planning process began in fall 2023 and will end in late 2025. Over the next two years, the City of Gainesville and GHA will work with the East University Avenue community and planning partners to create what is known as a “Transformation Plan.”
“We want to start a community conversation,” Kiner said. “This is a two-year transformation plan for us to seek additional funding for future projects. We want to know what businesses they want to see, what they want to see in the parks, and what other amenities people want to see like grocery stores, coffee shops.”
If the transformation plan is successful, GHA can apply for a $50 million grant to function as a catalyst for reinvestment in the area, Kiner said.
A planning team will share their expertise and resources to help create a plan that is responsive to community needs and aspirations, Kiner said.
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According to Choice Neighborhoods (CN), the initiative seeks to benefit current GHA residents by planning to replace all 180 housing units at Lake Terrace and Pine Meadows and provide additional mixed-income housing opportunities in the neighborhood.
The neighborhood was selected because CN believes the neighborhood has assets and communities that can provide a foundation to improve the lives of its residents.
Sharmayne Epps is GHA’s community ambassador and said she wanted to be a part of the change within her community.
“I became an ambassador because I want to be part of the change,” Epps said. “I love learning about my community and being a positive asset to my community. I look forward to gaining more knowledge about what is taking place in our community.”
Food will be provided at the workshop, and there will be raffles, activities for children and transportation will be provided from Pine Meadows and Lake Terrace.
For more information, visit gainesvillechoice.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Residents of Gainesville Housing Authority to be informed about HUD grant
