- Gainesville plans to remove 100-foot historic district buffers around University Heights to encourage property redevelopment.
- Current buffer zones limit buildings to three or four stories, while U9 zoning allows up to six stories plus bonuses.
- The City Commission passed the motion 5-1 with a January 2027 review deadline to address development delays.
Gainesville is moving toward eliminating 100-foot buffers around the University Heights Historic Districts on the north and south sides of University Avenue in an effort to free development in the area.
While 8- and 10-story buildings now dominate the southern side of University Avenue, the northern side remains primarily one or two stories and without redevelopment prospects, including alcohol stores and smoke shops.
Gainesville’s planning staff will write the amendment deleting the historic buffers, adopted in 2017, before review by the City Plan Board and the Historic Preservation Board. The City Commission would then vote to finalize the change…