GAINESVILLE – Gainesville City Manager Bryan Lackey announced at Tuesday evening’s Gainesville City Council meeting plans for three new, mixed-use building projects for downtown Gainesville.
The trio of multi-story buildings represents a total investment of $53-million and will offer 45,000-square-feet of retail and restaurant space, 40 luxury condominiums, 150 upscale apartment units, nearly 60,000-square-feet of office space as well as onsite parking.
“I am pleased to announce tonight that we have chosen the partnership of Carroll Daniel Construction Company and Knight Commercial Real Estate for this exciting project,” Lackey told the audience.
The three projects are as follows:
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To be constructed on the property known locally as “the fourth side of the square”; presently used as a parking lot and situated on Spring Street. This $16-million investment will offer 15,000-square-feet of street level retail and restaurant space with 40 luxury condominiums built above. Developer Tim Knight said that condos would be priced from $300,000 and up. Ground breaking is planned for early in 2018.
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To be constructed on the vacant lot currently used for parking along the north side of Jesse Jewell Parkway, between the locomotive exhibit and Maple Street. Locally known as the “old Greater South lot”, this $25-million project will offer 30,000-square-feet of retail and restaurant space with 150 apartment units. Knight described the apartment units as “upscale” and said parking would be provided within the building. Knight said preliminary designs for the project show it as either seven or eight stories in height; he explained the final height would be based upon the amount of underground parking the site would allow once engineering reports are available. The architectural drawing on display called the project “Southern Station.” Construction is expected to begin in the 3rd quarter of 2018.
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Also located on the north side of Jesse Jewell Parkway, this $12-million investment would occupy the current parking lot between Maple and Main Streets. At roughly 60,000-square-feet this multi-story building would be primarily Class A office space. Work on this project is slated to begin later this year.
Both Carroll Daniel Construction and Knight Commercial Real Estate are Hall County businesses according to Mayor Danny Dunagan. “We have been waiting a decade for this news and I have to say it’s worth it. Patience pays off.”
Dunagan thanked members of Carroll Daniel Construction and Knight Commercial Real Estate for working together on this project. “Their experience in mixed-use development, retail and housing assures us of three quality projects in the heart of our city.”
Knight said, “To the best of our knowledge…no one has done this type of development in a city the size of Gainesville.”
Councilman George Wangemann said, “I really think this is the dawning of a new day in Gainesville. I’ve been on the council over 30-and-a-half years and I think this project is almost unprecedented.”
Councilwoman Barbara Brooks agreed. “I am very proud to have this type of investment in our downtown…those lots have been empty for so long. It’s going to be really nice to see first-class structures on those lots.”
