Title
Historic Home Stabilization Assistance Program (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 goal 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 also help preserve the 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. The proposed Program is part of this strategy to preserve culture by preserving history.
The forthcoming Historic Home Stabilization Program's proposed guidelines were presented first to the GCRA Advisory Board on July 20, 2021 (Legistar #201144) and returned to the board on October 19, 2021 (Legistar #210322). The Advisory Board approved the Program on January 18, 2022 (Legistar #210581). Most recently, the Program was introduced to the City Commission during the GCRA Update agenda item at the General Policy Committee (GPC) meeting on April 28, 2022 (Legistar #211113).
There are existing local programs that offer assistance to rehabilitate Gainesville homes, including the City of Gainesville's Housing and Community Development Department programs. However, there is a need for a local program that focuses on preventing "demolition by neglect" of historic structures that assist mi...
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