Thank you for your response. There's no need to meet as we have all accepted the change and wish Brent success.Like I said, it was just the way it went down. My initial meeting Brent, he told me he wanted to put a couple single family homes and a community garden. And save as many trees as possible. Then he promised us a fence, but now says it's out of budget. We had a ( peaceful) disagreement about SE 2 pl the side road that separated our property. He seems to think he can close it off, but I was told by Valerie the project city supervisor that it is to remain open and will even have a sidewalk on Brent's side. It is used by a lot of ppl going to the Health Dept on foot I am curious and haven't asked Brent , but his website says a 2 bd Apartment is $1500, a 3 bd $1700. .Is that considered affordable? Wouldn't a person be better off putting a deposit on a house and paying a mortgage instead of renting and gaining no equity or sense of ownership? Again, if you hear of any more projects planned for our neighborhood, please let us know. And I will try to be more aware and proactive in city affairs. Thanks, Mark

On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM, Walker, Desmon N

<WalkerDN@cityofgainesville.org> wrote:

Hello Mr. Stewart 

Thank you for your concerns.   I am sorry to learn of your dissatisfaction with both the City’s process and support of the Jessie’s Place housing development.  

Like you, I am a longtime resident of East Gainesville.  My family and I have been residents of that community for generations - since 1959 (and in Gainesville since its beginnings) so,  East Gainesville is a place that I, too, value greatly.  Its safety, development and the quality of life of its residents are among my top priorities.  

As your District 1 Commissioner, I can assure you that in serving our community, I do not have a singular goal for our District or our City (ie. Taxes).  Instead, my goals support Public Safety, Public Health, Economic Development,  Equitable Development, etc. Those goals have been reflected in the policies that I have put forward and have always centered and been shaped by the voices and concerns of the people. 

How the city’s communities grow has been at the core of my work since before I came to the City commission.  Prior to my first term, as the Founder of the Gainesville Alliance for Equitable Development, I led, advocated for, and worked alongside the existing community in the historic NW 5th Avenue neighborhood when it opposed an out of town developer seeking to build several stories of student housing there (an effort that went beyond the City Commission at the time and involved the State Magistrate). 

I welcome the opportunity to meet with you and any neighbors to discuss this project and any others currently planned for East Gainesville, etc.   

If you wish to, please reach out to my Executive Assistant - Andrea Wyatt at (352) 575-3049 and provide a few dates and a location where you and/or additional community members would like to meet in the community or I am happy to schedule a meeting with you at my office in City Hall.  Meeting virtually is also an option if that works best for you.  

Again, Mr. Stewart, thank you for your concerns and I look forward to speaking with you and the community members around the Jessie’s Place property at a time that is convenient for you.  

Sincerely 

Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker

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From: Mark Stewart <markthisday2@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2025 12:24:41 PM
To: Walker, Desmon N <walkerdn@cityofgainesville.org>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Jesses Village

 

Hi Ms Walker. My name is Mark Stewart and I live next to Jesses Village. I could only catch about 20 min of the groundbreaking and wanted to share my opinion on this project.

  I have talked with Brent Hutchinson numerous times and I know he is trying to do a good thing for East Gainesville. We all wish him success. He has, however  told me some things that bothered me about how the city wanted him to build 33 apts in three story high buildings. He also said an out of town developer wanted to put 60+ apts there and cited that as a reason he bought the property. My beef is with the City. I, along with at least five of my neighbors have lived here for decades, own our homes and were shocked that when we were first notified of the project and had a Zoom meeting with the developer, we were told there was nothing we could do about it. It was a done deal. It will double our small community. Nobody I know is happy about it. Traffic, lack of sidewalks and unknown new neighbors are a concern. As well as any infrastructure issues like water and sewage issues that may happen. 

  I feel the City should have informed us of the project BEFORE a permit was granted.  I got a notice in the mail yesterday about a variance someone around the corner is seeking and wants neighborhood feedback. We got no such notice about JV 

 Our street has been rezoned to allow apartments. The City seems to think it's fine to change old neighborhoods into apt complexes. I am now wary of the remaining lots around here., knowing the City has one goal, more tax revenue. 

  I wanted to speak out at the Groundbreaking but that was not the place, but I would have asked who in the crowd wants the next 22 apts to be built next to their house? Of course, no one would . So when I heard you and others saying that this is what we wanted to see in East Gainesville, I don't know Who you were referring to.

     There is a large wooded  lot across from Jessie's Village that stretches down to Univ Ave. Brent seems to think Habitat owns it. The trees were all marked for removal but that was two years ago. When would the neighborhood be notified of the plans there? Involve us BEFORE major changes come to our street. Thank you.

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