Council approves rezoning for Harrison Village redevelopment phases 2–3; housing authority project moves forward

Gainesville’s mayor and council voted unanimously to rezone 8.33 acres at 815 Harrison Drive SE to a planned unit development to allow phases 2 and 3 of the Harrison Village housing redevelopment.

Mister Ligon, representing planning staff, told the council the rezoning request from Candler Development Services would enable an overall 145-unit mixed-use development that is part of the Gainesville Housing Authority’s Harrison Village redevelopment. He described phase 2 as 100 senior-housing units on about 4.5 acres, with a four-story manor-style building, fitness center, community spaces, a pavilion and a 10,000-square-foot commercial maker’s space; staff anticipates completion of phase 2 in March 2028. Phase 3 was described as 45 workforce housing units on roughly 3.8 acres, including a 3,000-square-foot community center, with an anticipated July 2028 completion.

David Griffin, speaking on behalf of the housing authority, told the council the existing 75 public housing apartment units on the site have been vacated and residents relocated into phase 1, and he urged approval; he said, "So there will be no residents displaced." Planning staff and the Planning and Appeals Board recommended conditional approval with five conditions. Councilmember Elliott recused himself from the item as announced by the city attorney.

Council members praised recent redevelopment work, and on a motion and second the council approved rezoning ordinance 2026-03 with five conditions by unanimous vote. Council did not record any dissenting speakers. The rezoning approval clears the way for the housing authority and development partners to proceed with project permitting and implementation subject to the five conditions attached to the PUD.