Growth and expansion continues to flourish in the Gainesville community as 11 business developments draw closer to completion. Businesses are looking to offer more employment opportunities, sustainable productivity and a more family-oriented atmosphere. Updates on these developments were given at Gainesville’s 3rd annual Moving Dirt event hosted by the Urban Land Institute March 22, 2018. While some developments will be completed before others, the overall advancement of the Gainesville community will surely add to the city’s influence.
1. The Hub The Hub, formerly known as the Innovation Hub, is one of two business incubators at UF Innovate. The Hub completed a second phase that doubled its size to include room for more tenants, which ranges from clients with startups in the early stages to growth companies looking to reshape industries. The Hub currently serves 44 companies.
UF Innovate | The Hub 747 SW 2nd Ave. IMB #47
2. 800 Second Opening in September 2018, the building will offer workspaces, meeting spaces and dining spaces at Innovation Square in downtown Gainesville. 800 Second looks to offer a space where research and innovation groups can increase growth and productivity through collaboration.
800 Second 800 SW 2nd Ave.
3. Aloft Hotel Opening August 1, 2018, the boutique-style hotel will offer 146 rooms near the university campus. Reservations will be available on or after August 31, and amenities include a fitness center, outside pool and a 55” LED television.
Aloft Hotel 3743 SW Hull Road
4. Arbours at Tumblin Creek The newest 55+ community will open Fall 2018 in a five-story mid-rise building. Floor plans include one and two-bedroom apartments, and amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, a yoga lounge and an entertainment lounge. An income limit is set for each apartment based on the total number of occupants in the apartment.
Arbours at Tumbling Creek, LLC 1303 SW 13th Street
5. Butler Plaza Town Center Butler Plaza North, Butler Plaza and Butler Plaza Town Center are three neighborhoods that comprise the retail megaplex in Gainesville, Florida. The town center neighborhood is still under construction, but it will include 350,000 sq. feet of retail, a 14-screen theater and 202 residencies. Store openings are available on the Shop at Butler Facebook page, such as the recently opened Whole Foods Market.
Butler Enterprises 217 SW 35th Blvd.
6. Celebration Pointe Across the interstate from Butler North, Celebration Pointe will include 1 million sq. feet worth of dining, entertainment, shopping, Class-A office space as well as luxury apartment and town homes. The urban development sits on 125 acres on the intersection of I-75 and Archer Road and looks to offer a place where Gainesville residents can live, shop, work and play.
Celebration Point 3528 SW 45 St.
7. Cornerstone Redevelopment Mérieux NutriSciences, an international food tasting company, began construction of a new facility on the Cornerstone campus in January 2018. The new facility is part of the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency’s aim to bring more businesses to the Eastside of the community. With an estimate of six to eight months of construction, Mérieux NutriSciences is expected to occupy the new facility in the latter half of the year.
Cornerstone Redevelopment 2153 SE Hawthorne Road
8. Blount Center Santa Fe College is constructing a three-story building at the downtown location that will provide space for business incubators and more degree options for students. The building is expected to be about 86,000 sq. feet with a cost of about $31 million.
Blount Center 401 NW 6th St.
9. South Main St.
The $8.5 million project will improve a mile-long stretch of road from South 16th Avenue to the roundabout where the Cade Museum meets Depot Park in downtown Gainesville. Improvements will include wider sidewalks, more parking spaces, additional landscaping for green space and better bike lanes and pedestrian crossings.
Gainesville CRA 802 NW 5th Ave. #200
10. The Nine A new option for student housing will be available come August 2018 at The Nine at Gainesville located off of 13th Street. The apartments offer amenities that include a zero-entry pool, a community jumbotron, a bowling alley, tanning beds and private study rooms. Floor plans range from one-to five-bedroom apartments and are now available for leasing.
The Nine 1245 SW 11th Ave. 1
11. UF Health Expansion UF Health is building a guest house for the families of hospital patients. The guest house will be located on the corner of SW 16 Avenue and 13th Street.
UF Health Shands 1515 SW Archer Rd.