GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – At a meeting, Alachua County Commissioners gave the green light on selling a property in Micanopy and purchasing one in Gainesville.
At an Alachua County Commission meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, commissioners voted to let the city of Micanopy purchase the land that was once supposed to be a Dollar General near the intersection of SE Tuscawilla Rd and US 441.
RELATED: Micanopy town leaders proposed to buy properties from Alachua County
For some time, residents have been concerned about this property losing its historical meaning. This is the reason behind Alachua County purchasing it to begin with.
County commissioners say the city is using their wild spaces and public places dollars.
The county purchased the two properties in June for a combined $850,000. Micanopy officials have now bought the land from the county for $170,000.
One county commissioner tells me this was the right thing to do considering how determined the community was to maintain the historic significance.
“That will make it one big contiguous piece of property with historical and archeological significance and hopefully soon people will be able to visit that, hike it and understand why it was so important for us to save it,” said Mary Alford, chair of the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.
Also during the meeting, commissioners voted to move forward with purchasing the Sunrise Residence Inn.
RELATED: Alachua County Commissioners meet to approve purchasing Sunrise Residence Inn from St. Francis House
The permanent housing program property was previously owned by the St. Francis House since 1999. St. Francis House officials initially purchased it for $460,000.
Commissioners are now purchasing it for about $2 million because of financial struggles the St. Francis House is facing. This will prevent the displacement of the residents in the 35 units, many of whom rely on HUD project-based vouchers.
Residents who live there say they are partially happy Alachua County is taking over the building but they still have some questions and concerns.
“I’m a senior living off of nothing but social security and if they do away with these apartments, if something happens like that, I’ve got nowhere to go,” said Tammy Reinhardt, a resident who lives in Sunrise Residence Inn.
County officials say they have some work to do on the buildings. They say significant renovations are needed for the studio apartments, including asbestos, lead, mold, and structural repairs, which cost around $4.2 million.
“Our problem has been that out some of the housing units aren’t in the best shape so we’re going to have to either spin some money to rehabilitate those units or to look for some partners to perhaps rebuild that in a better way,” said Alford.
Reinhardt has been living in the complex for 10 years and says St. Francis officials weren’t consistent with the upkeep of the building.
“My neighbor’s bathroom is leaking down in mine and they never finished with the work of fixing it,” said Reinhardt.
Other residents who live there say they hope the county will take care of what they call the bad living conditions.
The St. Francis House executive director tells TV20 that during her tenure all inspections have passed with minor need for repairs.
County commissioners say they look forward to renovating the complex. They also look forward to seeing what the city of Micanopy does with the land.
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