As expected, Gainesville City Council members voted their unanimous approval on two zoning issues for a new development that will replace the current Atlanta Street Apartments on E.E. Butler Parkway.
Council members gave second reading approval to an ordinance to rezone an 11.67-acre tract on Chestnut Street, Summit Street and Atlanta Street on the southside of Butler Parkway; the tract will now be zoned for Planned Unit Development (PUD). Council also okayed the abandonment of a .603-acre portion of right-of-way on Atlanta Street for a utility easement for the new Walton Homes development.
City Manager Bryan Lackey said after the vote, developers have complete another key step for Walton Summit, a 265-unit housing development for Gainesville's south side.
"With the zoning out of the way, we continue to work on the relocation of the current residents and the [Gainesville] Housing Authority is doing a good job with that - we want to do that in the proper manner," said Lackey.
He said relocation is a "delicate process."
"You don't want to force someone and tell them where to live," said Lackey. "You want them to choose the right location for them."
He said that process takes time, but once everyone has found new living quarters, then the demolition phase of the project can begin.
GHA Executive Director Beth Brown told the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board last month that the developer would like to start construction on Phase I of the project by January 2017.
