Gainesville Housing Authority host its Resident Appreciation Day to encourage dialogue
Gainesville Housing Authority residents and an urban planner discussed how government funds should be used to revitalize an area of east Gainesville.
GHA Resident Appreciation Day
The discussion was held as part of the GHA's Resident Appreciation Day held Wednesday at the Strive 4 Success Center at Pine Meadows at 2626 E. University Ave.
Funds will come from HUD
The funds at the center of the discussion will come from a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded to the city of Gainesville as part of a neighborhood initiative program to transform east Gainesville.
Residents voices will be heard
"The residents have a place to say how they want the community to look like," said Freddie Jones, a GHA resident services specialist. "This is an amazing opportunity because how often does someone ask you what you want, and create what they ask for?"
HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant
The HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant is meant to revitalize public housing and encourage community development that will include transforming 1.5 miles of east Gainesville, officials say.
The two-year planning grant includes community members, GHA residents and nonprofit organizations working together on a plan to revitalize the area from Southeast 31st Street to Waldo Road and from Southeast Eighth Avenue to Northeast Eighth Avenue, officials say.
Once the planing stage is successful, the partners in this project can receive a HUD implementation grant for the choice neighborhood, Jones said.
Those grants were previously given to communities such as Tampa and Miami-Dade, officials say.
Feedback from residents
Feedback from residents about what they would like to see in the revitalization was gathered by Adam Rosa, principal of COLLABO, the urban design firm chosen to work on the project.
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Rosa said he has 22 years of planning around the country and established COLLABO in 2020.
He said the grant focuses on three pillars - housing, people and neighborhoods.
"Each community is different"
"Each community is different," Rosa said. "It is not a one size fits all. That's why we have to find out what the residents need."
GHA wants to hear from residents
Malcolm Kiner, GHA's chief operating officer, said he's looking forward to the 24-month planning stage to hear what the residents need.
"It is important that we are receiving input from the residents on what they would like to see," Kiner said. "We don't want to put the cart before the horse. We're excited about the momentum to make improvements on our property."
GHA "residents are excited"
Residents are excited to share their ideas, said Ardry Henderson, a GHA resident services specialist after speaking with residents.
"They are excited about it because they feel like their voices are being heard," Henderson said. "Seeing the collaboration in-person is awesome."
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Event hosted by Gainesville Housing Authority promotes dialogue
