Title
Stephen Foster Neighborhood Blight Study (B)
This item requests that the City Commission authorize staff to develop a Request for Qualifications to conduct a Blight Study of the Stephen Foster Neighborhood, or a portion thereof.
Explanation
The Stephen Foster Neighborhood (Map A) is an important neighborhood in Gainesville. It is located near major roads, natural features, schools and commercial areas. It is also adjacent to the Koppers Superfund site. Given the relevance of this neighborhood, and its proximity to the Superfund site, some have asked if the City should consider having a study done to determine if the area meets the state's definition of slum or blight, and is therefore, eligible to be a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Area.
Although some lots in the Stephen Foster Neighborhood date back to the 1900's, the neighborhood, like much of Northern Gainesville, is essentially a first ring residential suburb. Annexed into the City in 1961, the neighborhood's biggest development boom occurred during the 1940's and 1950's.
As population and commerce moved away from the center of Gainesville, many first ring suburban areas suffered from moderate to severe lack of investment. The Stephen Foster Neighborhood contains several examples of both investment and disinvestment, which should be expected, given the relatively large size of the neighborhood. The close proximity between well-kept, attractive homes and dilapidated structures, however, is unusual. Generally, when taken as a whole, the area does not appear to be particularly blighted.
Without conducting an in depth study, it is impossible to determine which factors most contribute to blight in the area. However, based solely on a recent windshield survey, it appeared that homes on larger lots and on lots located closer to the interior of the neighborhood (away from major roads) were better maintained than homes on smaller lots or lots located near the perimeter of the ne...
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