A trip to Gainesville would be incomplete without a visit to the heart of the city. Gainesville’s downtown area is a unique gathering place hosting a variety of dining experiences, celebration venues and spaces for taking in the arts – ranging from live music and theater to exhibits of crafted masterpieces.
A vibrant downtown is a top priority of City of Gainesville leaders. This vision includes a commitment to responsible growth that embraces history, culture and innovation.
At the center of Downtown Gainesville is the City’s Bo Diddley Plaza, named in honor of local legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, guitarist and singer/songwriter Bo Diddley. In addition to music events, the plaza hosts free yoga, dance lessons and arts classes.
The variety of restaurants, cafes and shops that line the streets surrounding Bo Diddley Plaza are a draw on weekends, holidays and throughout the workweek as many businesses are located within walking distance of the establishments.
Businesses are key to a thriving downtown, and Gainesville leaders are committed to identifying and implementing programs that maintain its resilient economy.
In partnership with area businesses and community leaders, City staff hosted community meetings in 2022 to engage stakeholders in a planning process for the future of this local centerpiece.
Gainesville residents, visitors and the business community alike all recognize a healthy business environment is vital to the Downtown vision. They celebrate the history, uniqueness and diversity of the city center, and value its retail, eating and drinking establishments, its trees and parks, and its many local arts, theater and music options. They seek increased options for living, biking, walking and playing in the vicinity.
The Downtown Gainesville Strategic Plan will help ensure the center of Gainesville by building on its past, strategically outlining opportunities in the present, and preserving what makes Downtown Gainesville special for current and future generations.
Not far from Downtown, the Gainesville Technology Entrepreneurship Center (GTEC) serves as a business incubator with the mission of enhancing economic development and job creation in the Gainesville community at large.
Owned by the City of Gainesville and managed in conjunction with Santa Fe College, GTEC provides support and services to 15 to 20 qualified startup companies at any given time. By connecting entrepreneurs with the resources to grow and succeed, companies graduate from the hub every two months on average. GTEC also embraces nonprofits and service ventures as it works to strengthen and diversify the area’s business portfolio.
Downtown Gainesville Neighborhoods
There are five long-time established neighborhoods and historic districts that surround Downtown Gainesville and are within walking distance of the retail and entertainment areas.
The City’s Historic Thomas Center, located in the Duckpond Neighborhood, is considered the town’s cultural center. The beautifully restored Mediterranean Revival-style hotel built in the 1920s is a popular wedding and event venue. It is surrounded by the Thomas Center Gardens and the Grace and Sidney Knight Children’s Theatre, and its Galleries host a variety of art exhibits and musical programs throughout the year.
The Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area, a recently acquired City department, is currently building homes in Gainesville’s newest neighborhood known as Heartwood, which is immersed in nature and inspired by history.
The development is located one mile from downtown and is a mixed-income community characterized by high-quality housing and top-level urban design. Eleven home models are available with many popular amenities at a variety of price points.
Downtown Gainesville is a walkable city center and easily accessed by vehicle, walking or by hopping onboard an RTS bus. It’s a key destination for residents, visitors and newcomers.