Title
Kennedy Homes (NB)
Explanation
The former Kennedy Homes site is one of the most well-known properties in Gainesville. Funded through a loan from HUD, the development originally opened in 1968. However over the years, the property unfortunately came to embody many negative stereotypes associated with low-income housing. Challenged by poor maintenance, drug, and crime issues, problems at Kennedy Homes resulted in negative impacts to the surrounding community. In 2007, the City purchased and cleared the property. Simultaneously, the City and the CRA coordinated the Southeast Gainesville Renaissance Initiative (SEGRI), which produced a Master Plan consisting of a series of conceptual development visions for six key sites - including Kennedy Homes-- located throughout the southeast Gainesville community. As a follow-up to the conceptual SEGRI Master Plan, the CRA has tackled two major projects. The first has involved coordination with local stakeholders to create a draft Special Area Plan (SAP) for the SEGRI area. The SAP consists of a regulatory toolset to achieve the sense of place, amenities, and high-quality design identified through the SEGRI Master Plan. The SAP will be considered for inclusion into the City of Gainesville Land Development Code. The second major follow-up project is the implementation of redevelopment activities at Kennedy Homes.
In keeping with the findings of the SEGRI Master Plan, the proposed redevelopment scope for the Kennedy Homes site envisions that the property will be redeveloped as mixed-income residential community. The development will augment on-going revitalization efforts in southeast Gainesville. Homes will be priced in a "ladder" structure, with many different price points available in order to further develop and foster a well-rounded, diverse, and sustainable community. The project will reinforce community efforts to establish a high-quality built environment; it will be characterized by in...
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