Title
Historic Home Stabilization Program Follow Up (B)
Explanation
The proposed GCRA Historic Home Stabilization Program offers rehabilitation assistance to property owners of historic homes in the Fifth Avenue, Porters Quarters, Pleasant Street, and Springhill neighborhoods. The goals and objective of the Program are to reinvest in neighborhood culture by maintaining historic architectural uniqueness.
The City of Gainesville Comprehensive Plan Historic Preservation Element identified the proposed Program neighborhoods as having their historic character most negatively affected by neglect and demolition of historic buildings. The proposed Program would help preserve some remaining historic housing stock in these neighborhoods.
The GCRA 10 Year Reinvestment Plan authorizes the GCRA to provide incentives to improve residential neighborhoods. The primary objective of the Plan's Attainable Housing Goal is to maintain the population and culture of neighborhoods. Over a series of community engagement meetings, many participants said they wanted historic preservation strategies. This proposed program is in response to the Reinvestment Plan priorities, which reflect community needs.
The forthcoming Historic Home Stabilization Program's proposed guidelines were presented first to the GCRA Advisory Board on July 20, 2021 (Legistar #201144) and then returned to the board on October 19, 2021 (Legistar #210322). Today's agenda item continues this discussion and presents a program that incorporates input and goals brought by the Advisory Board members.
There are existing local programs that offer assistance to rehabilitate Gainesville homes, including the City of Gainesville Housing and Community Development Department programs. However, there is a need for a local program that focuses on preventing "demolition by neglect," which assists middle-income earners, in addition to low income. The proposed Program complements existing programs and addresses the need...
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