Embattled group homes find a new home

GAINESVILLE - Two embattled Gainesville group homes have found a new home. Now all that's needed is city permission to move in.

Harold Hinchman's Agora House - which is for recovering addicts - was ordered by the city last month to move because the homes were in an area not zoned for such uses. He told a planning commission meeting in August he'd move from Gainesville if he was ordered to vacate the Northside Drive and Ivey Terrace locations.

Now, Hinchman tells city officials he wants to move them to Grove Street, next to the county jail, in Midtown.

His new plan goes before planners November 13.

That's the same day Roland Bagwell will ask planners to approve a request to bring one of two group homes he operates on Washington Street into compliance. City officials say it has been illegally operating as a group home for about 7 years.