In a unanimous vote, Gainesville City Council Tuesday night turned down a special use application that would have allowed for an addiction recovery home for men in an old apartment building on Cleveland Street.
Dozens of community residents turned out to urge council members to vote against Synergy Recovery Center, most saying they supported the idea of the center, but all saying they did not want the facility close to their homes.
Haydee Anderson, who identified herself as one of the first Hispanic residents of Gainesville, told council she was there to speak on behalf of community residents, and their concern is the number of children who live in the area.
"I don't have any doubts about the organization, about all the benefits of [the facility] - in fact, I think it's very good, but it's in the wrong place," Anderson said. "It's 36 men versus 50 children."
Andres Rostro-Lopez spoke through an interpreter - Pastor Frank Medina - telling council members he was worried about the safety of his three children.
"As a father, I rejoice seeing my children play with other kids in the community every single day, but in two months, they haven't gone out. Because of the opening of the place there, I don't let them go out."
Medina, who pastors Restoration Community Church on Myrtle Street, told council members the number of children is higher than most people think. He said at least 450 children live in the community; 92 children step off just one school bus each weekday in the vicinity of the building on Cleveland Street.
"This represents a danger to our community," Medina said. "Latinos, they don't care as much about property and things as they do about family, and that is a major concern."
Despite assurances from the organizers of Synergy Recovery Center that the men living at the home would be working jobs in the community and that they would be drug and alcohol free, city council members voted to deny the special use application. Councilman Sam Couvillon did not attend Tuesday night's voting session.
Synergy organizers not sure how they will proceed
After the meeting, the applicants gathered in the parking lot of the Gainesville Public Safety Building to discuss what their strategy might be for moving forward.
Todd Price of Dacula said he and others had spent time and money cleaning up the Cleveland Street property.
"Me personally, [I've spent] $25,000," Price said, also noting that others have poured thousands of dollars into the effort.
"The only reason we've done so - one, with hopes and prayers - but, two, because of our passion for it. We've all been there. We've all been down that road and you know, have lost a lot."
Price said most of those who are behind the effort are recovered alcoholics or addicts, who want to open doors for others who are struggling.
"It's because of programs like this that saved my life - not only saved my life, but helped me rekindle relationships with my family," Price said. "A lot of the other centers around here are great, but they haven't been through it [addiction]. We've been through it, we've walked that life and we want to show them there's another way."
Price said he and his colleagues selected Gainesville for the center because of the need in the area and because of the available employment.
He said they are unsure what their plans are for the building since the application was denied.
