Doug Ivester of Gainesville has been awarded the "Premier New Development Award" at the Georgia Downtown Association (GDA) Conference this week.
The Premier New Development Award celebrates innovative projects that contribute to the economic and cultural vibrancy of downtowns through high-quality design, strategic placement and community-focused outcomes. This award recognizes an exceptional new development project that has had a significant and lasting impact on the vitality of a downtown district. Eligible projects include mixed-use developments, infill construction and newly built structures that complement and elevate the surrounding area.
Upon receiving the award Wednesday, area officials and dignitaries chimed in on what this means for the area, as well as for Ivester. Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon says in a City of Gainesville press release,"Gainesville has been blessed in many ways and one that is a particularly special blessing is Doug and Kay Ivester. Doug and Kay grew up in New Holland and have never forgotten where they came from. It’s not a coincidence that the building they built is called Gainesville Renaissance. The Ivesters built this beautiful building to complete the fourth side of the historic square and, since then, we have seen hundreds of millions of dollars in downtown investment. Without the investment by the Ivesters, we wouldn’t be what we have become. I am grateful for their investment, but even more grateful for their friendship."
Located in the heart of Gainesville, the Gainesville Renaissance stands as a model of forward-thinking development and thoughtful urban design, and has quickly become a cornerstone of local revitalization efforts.
The Georgia Downtown Conference is a premier gathering for downtown development professionals, offering a platform for sharing innovative ideas, strategies and success stories.
The award was presented on Wednesday, Aug. 27, in Gainesville, where Doug Ivester and the City of Gainesville were commended for their vision, creativity and the positive impact of the Gainesville Renaissance project. Also during Wednesday's awards ceremony, Main Street Gainesville was declared, "Downtown of the Year" for 2025, by the statewide Georgia Downtown Association.
