MediaUpdate

Elliot Tritto
Gainesville Sun​

In an effort to ease residents' concerns, Alachua County in a social media post on July 10 wrote that a proposed housing development near Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park will not be built on conservation land.

At a July 8 County Commission meeting, several residents spoke out against a requested zoning change by Maronda Homes LLC to make way for subdividing 73 acres of land to construct 134 new homes at 5321 SW 13th Street in Micanopy.

The land sits to the east of U.S. 441 and to the west of Paynes Prairie. Residents are worried about the potential development's environmental and economic impact on the area.

County resident Debbie Ringhaver called Paynes Prairie unique to Florida and said if the proposal goes through, it will increase habitat fragmentation and flood risks.

"Species can be isolated, can be harmed when animals can't safely travel between natural areas," Ringhaver said. "We need to protect the wildlife — the cattle, the buffalo, the horses, everything that's out there."

In response, the county posted on Facebook that no development would take place in the state park and that the county would not sell any conservation land for the project.

"The property in question is privately owned land adjacent to the park and a private landowner is submitting a rezoning application to Alachua County which looks to change zoning to allow for single-family residential development," the Facebook post said.

According to the post, the rezoning request will be considered through a quasi-judicial hearing process in which the County Commission will rule out evidence objectively based solely on evidence and testimony presented at public hearings.

Residents can attend two potential future public meetings on the matter — one before the Planning Commission and one before the Board of County Commissioners — that could take place as soon as August.

Elliot Tritto
Gainesville Sun​

City of Gainesville and Alachua County officials gathered on July 18 for a ribbon cutting ceremony near UF Health's Urgent Care Center in east Gainesville to mark the second milestone of a transformational project.

At the center site, 457 SE 20th St., several local leaders spoke about the Eastside Health and Economic Development Initiative (EHEDI).

The project includes a new roadway and infrastructure system at a 21-acre site near the urgent care center that will be used to support local economic growth and improve accessibility.

Among the most vital elements of the project was opening the UF Health Urgent Care Center in 2024. It received $2.25 million each from the city and county through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

​The new roadway network includes Southeast 20th Street being provided with a new north-south connector between Southeast Hawthorne Road and Southeast Eighth Avenue. Also, Southeast Sixth Avenue has been extended through a new intersection at Southest 20th Street and continues east to the Gainesville Technology Entrepreneurship Center (GTEC).

Additionally, city officials said a Regional Transit System station will be constructed around mid-2026.

District 1 City Commissioner Desmond Duncan-Walker, who represents most of east Gainesville, said it's important to not only recognize the completion of the project's infrastructure, but also the continuation of a promise.

"This day isn't just about sidewalks and asphalt, it's about building opportunity for people who will use these changes to access jobs and the small businesses that can benefit from the strength of public and private investment and bringing amenities and economic empowerment to the district and neighbors I'm so proud to represent," Duncan-Walker said.

As an east Gainesville resident for several years, Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward expressed that city officials have said for a long time that more development was in store for east Gainesville but didn't have anything to show for it.

"I've been telling y'all: Trust us, we're going to get this done, and I want y'all to believe," Ward said. "And if you didn't believe, I can absolutely forgive because we didn't have a lot to show at the time."

​Ward said when City Manager Cynthia Curry presented the idea of the project, she saw something bigger than just the urgent care center. Ward elaborated that he was sold by Curry's vision for including several amenities like a food hub and a walkway to Lincoln Yard Park.

East Gainesville has been long underserved, and it's time to put words into action, County Commissioner Chuck Chestnut said at the ceremony. Additionally, Chestnut said the county is committed to working with its partners at the city of Gainesville, UF Health, local businesses and residents themselves to provide more opportunities to a better quality of life.

University of Florida Health Senior Vice President and Gainesville Regional President Michael Holmes said he joined the Gainesville community four months ago and already loves his new family. He said this is a powerful example of commitment to public service and expanding access to medical services.

A new intersection in East Gainesville is more than a network of streets, sidewalks, curbs, and concrete, as speakers noted today at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new roadway and infrastructure system at the Eastside Health and Economic Development Initiative (EHEDI) at Cornerstone.

​Read more.

Authorities raided two properties in connection with an alleged dog-fighting ring. More than 15 dogs were rescued on Wednesday morning.

Watch the story​.​

The Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association (FFCA) is proud to announce that Fire Chief Harold Theus of Alachua County Fire Rescue has been named Career Fire Chief of the Year for 2025. Chief Theus was formally recognized with this distinguished honor during the closing Installation Dinner at FFCA’s Executive Development Conference in Miami.

Read more​.​