GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) — Gainesville city and Alachua County leaders agree on the importance of revitalizing East Gainesville and downtown, but they’re at odds over when to decide the future of a major redevelopment program.
The Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) is set to sunset in 2029, but city leaders want to extend the program. Alachua County commissioners say they aren’t ready to commit to extending the GCRA beyond 2029, citing too many unknown factors.
Gainesville city officials argue that starting these conversations now is crucial to continuing investments in East Gainesville and downtown. Both sides agree there’s still a long way to go before any decisions are made.
Program background and expansion plans
The GCRA was created in 2019 and merged several community redevelopment districts into one large area with a 10-year plan to fund transformational projects. The city now wants to extend that agreement by two decades and expand its reach to continue revitalization projects well into the future…