Since moving to our home since last February, we have been following the stormwater park development rather closely. Currently, new development in our neighborhood is halted due to the coal tar contamination down "hill" of our neighborhood. The place of contamination is also the the future stormwater park site located in back of the Historic Train Depot on Depot Rd in downtown Gainesville.
In April of 2001, I was appointed to the Sprout Project Task force which monitors the progress of the park development as well as other public improvement projects in the area. Working with the staff of the local municipalities, Gainesville Regional Utilities and state agencies, we have been able to acquire the property for the park and are negotiating for non-compatable industries to relocate. Most non-compatable industries have bought into the collective vision of a beautiful downtown park, with the exception of the Petroleum Station on the corner of the park site. Note above there are thee similar designs. The one to the right (Concept A), maintains the petroleum station. The other two (Concept B & Concept C) suggest a mixed use development or open area instead. At the last Sprout Project meeting I recommended that the mixed use development area be increased and marketed to a developer to offset the annual taxpayer cost of maintainence to the park. In addition a mixed use above median income development (preferably containing housing component ) would provide some additional socio-economic diversity to the downtown neighborhoods and provide better security through increased citizen monitoring of the site.
In addition, I initiatied a motion, adopted by the task force to request a RFP for the redevelop 700 SE 3rd St (across Depot Ave and the stormwater park) as a part of the park devlopment. At 700 SE 3rd St, sits a 19,000 sq ft building on 2.5 acres of prime downtown land owned by Gainesville's Regional Transit System (your tax dollars at work) that has been sitting vacant for the last 6 years. This property could certainly be developed with the stormwater park to be a integral part of Downtown Gainesville!
More information on Park Development