Federal Housing Grant Awarded to GHA and City
Published on September 15, 2023
The Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) and the City of Gainesville have been awarded a $500,000 FY 2023 Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The joint application was one of 14 chosen nationwide during a highly competitive process, and included a “transformation plan” to support the revitalization of GHA’s Pine Meadows and Lake Terrace properties in east Gainesville near Fred Cone Park.
“The Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant represents a golden opportunity to uplift our community and bring about lasting positive change,” said Pamela Davis, CEO of the GHA.
“We are excited to work alongside the City of Gainesville, our residents, neighbors and community partners to create an implementable plan that will bring a brighter future for our community,” said Davis.
The strategic partnership between the GHA and the city marks a significant step toward turning the East University Avenue neighborhood into a thriving, inclusive and vibrant place for residents. This aligns with goals prioritized by the Gainesville City Commission and promoted by Mayor Harvey Ward, who has emphasized the need for innovative projects in east Gainesville since taking office in January.
“I’m thrilled for our entire community, and particularly for east Gainesville,” said Mayor Ward. “This is exactly the sort of transformational opportunity I had in mind when I made the motion nearly two years ago for the city to partner with the Gainesville Housing Authority. It’s the kind of visionary, working relationship that HUD tends to reward and that will change thousands of lives for the better in our city.”
The application earned 90 out of a maximum 104 points, and was scored on factors including need, soundness of approach and leverage for planning. The two-year plan includes opportunities to engage residents and community stakeholders in creating a vision for the East University Avenue neighborhood.
Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans to replace distressed public housing or other HUD-assisted housing with high-quality, mixed-income housing. Transformation plans must focus on directing resources to address three core goals: housing, people and neighborhood. More information is available on HUD's website.