A symbol of growth and a catalyst for more investment in the area was the vision for the Heartwood neighborhood in East Gainesville.
Almost 10 years later, the houses in Heartwood are buyer-ready and will go on sale at noon on Wednesday, June 30.
What is Heartwood?
The idea of Heartwood was created when the city purchased the property back in 2007 and tasked the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) with redeveloping the site.
Over time, the GCRA established that there was a need for affordable housing and investments in the area. The Heartwood site was the former Kennedy Homes housing development, which burned in 2003 and left dozens of people homeless.
“East Gainesville is the area of our city that needs the most attention, the most economic development,” Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola said.
Heartwood has 34 homes total, but each will be built as buyers line up — instead of all at once, said Daniel Gil, project manager of Heartwood.
The first of the 34 homes was completed in March.
For affordability purposes, 11 of the 34 lots are available to qualifiers with Dreams2Reality financing, a program created specifically for Heartwood.
The 11 home models could range from $200,000 to around $400,000.
More emphasis on affordability means these homes are move-in ready with no renovations needed.
“A lot of people can’t afford the house and then the repairs afterward,” said Heather Swanson, president of the Alachua County Association of Realtor.
Swanson said homes in Heartwood’s price range tend to go fast.
Applications for the Dreams2Reality program open on June 30 and run through July 14.
Location
Heartwood is located at 1717 SE 8th Ave. The Kennedy Homes was a historically Black housing complex destroyed by fires in the 2000s. Heritage trees cover the Heartwood area and are protected by city regulations because of the historical significance to the neighborhood.
Heartwood is within walking distance to Joseph Williams Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, and the TB McPherson Recreation Complex.
The neighborhood is accessible to I-75 via Williston Road and is located one mile from downtown Gainesville and about three miles from the University of Florida.
Potential
Heartwood has a lot of potential for the community. Gil, project manager, said residents of Heartwood will receive instant equity when moving in.
“We want to be able to have opportunities for everyone,” Swanson said. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to purchase a home.”
Around 5,000 people are currently on the waiting list for public housing assistance in Gainesville. Heartwood is prepared to give some relief to those people.
Steps to take
Those interested in purchasing a Heartwood home can do the following:
- Go to Heartwood’s official website to learn about the purchasing options.
- Attend the Virtual Heartwood Homebuyer’s Informational Session on June 2.
- Fill out the Heartwood Homebuyer Interest Form and connect with the realty team.