$328,825Average Value$285Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
A hub for nightlife, restaurants and development in Gainesville
On any given weekend, Downtown Gainesville is buzzing with activity, from live music in Bo Diddley Plaza to locals walking to restaurants before a night of bar hopping. The area is framed by University Avenue and lined with music venues, local shops and businesses. "There's so much history in Gainesville, especially downtown," says Cindy Bevilacqua, a local entrepreneur. "For a small downtown, it has so much culture. Between the museum, theaters and the University, it really is a big city in a little city." The neighborhood sits in the heart of the seat of Alachua County. The city has heavily focused on expanding Downtown Gainesville. About 20 years ago, Union Street Station became a mixed-used project for homes, office spaces and businesses. Today, the city block hosts condos, a record store, a tattoo shop and popular restaurants like Dragonfly Sushi and Marks Prime Steakhouse. In 2022, the City Commission developed an initiative to revitalize Downtown Gainesville, with plans to dedicate $12 million to connect greenways as well as update sidewalks and other infrastructure.
Bo Diddley Park is a place where the community comes together to enjoy a variety of activities.
Union Street Station is a mix of retail , office and apartments.
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Dining at Union Street Station
Downtown Gainesville offers a mix of government buildings, restaurants and event venues. Many businesses are owned and operated by locals; some are inside early 20th-century homes that were converted into commercial spaces. The closest grocery store, Publix Super Market, is a mile west of Downtown Gainesville. Locals can have brunch at Alpin Bistro, order cocktails at The Top and visit Loosey's Downtown Gainesville for karaoke and trivia. Feeline Good Cat Café at Union Street Station offers coffee with fuzzy cats. The area contains several bar and club locations. The city’s nightlife is mostly concentrated around downtown. These streets come alive at night, from dancing at White Buffalo’s Three Point Thursdays events to line dancing at Vivid Music Hall on Fridays. Downtown Fats is known to have large crowds of college students on weekends. At the beginning of 2024, the city enacted an open container ordinance in downtown areas known as the Arts, Culture and Entertainment Districts for limited hours during the day.
Get you groceries at Publix, located just a mile from downtown Gainesville.
This friendly tabby needs a forever home, and you can find it at the Feeline Good Cat Cafe.
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Condos and single-family houses in Downtown Gainesville
The housing market in Downtown Gainesville primarily includes condos and multifamily developments. Almost a quarter of the space downtown is occupied by apartment complexes. Some offer private, gated communities with luxury amenities like Union Street Station or The Palms. Condos often have two to three bedrooms and range in price from $175,000 to over $400,000. The community contains Victorian-inspired homes, worker's cottages and bungalows on pillar foundations. Although downtown has stand-alone, single-family houses, most don't enter the market. Housing prices vary, depending on the square footage and renovations. Single-story houses can start at around $275,000, while two-story homes range in price from $550,000 to $620,000.
The Palms condominiums offers a homeowner the convenience being downtown.
These craftsman bungalows are well cared for and are close to the heart of downtown.
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Afternoons at Bo Diddley Plaza and Sweetwater Park
Gainesville is considered a national tree city, designated by the Arbor Day Foundation. The community has a green backdrop of oak trees, and many can walk to neighborhood parks. Sweetwater Park offers shaded paths and playgrounds close to home. Gainesville residents gather at Bo Diddley Plaza for concerts during the warm months.
Bring your dog to Sweetwater park were there is lots of room to run.
One of the many free fridays at Bo Diddley Park with a movie with the family.
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Events at First Fridays and Hippodrome Theater
Downtown Gainesville is a hotspot for live music and festivals sponsored by the city and local businesses. From April to September, locals gather on the lawn at Bo Diddly Plaza for First Fridays. The outdoor gathering space also hosts yoga groups and a farmers market. The two-day Downtown Festival & Art Show has attracted locals for over 40 years. The event, celebrating culinary and performance arts, is the largest in the region. Throughout the year, art lovers will also venture past tall columns to enter the historic Hippodrome Theater for plays and gallery exhibitions.
The Hippofrome theater is a staple for theater lovers in downtown Gainesville.
Artists take advantage of the empty buildings in the area to make beautiful murials.
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Downtown Gainesville is centrally located
The First Presbyterian Church has been a downtown landmark since 1954. Along 1st Avenue is the Historic Matheson House, one of the city’s oldest homes. Commuters often travel along University Avenue and Main Street. Along the roads are bicyclists and students on motorized scooters. Parking downtown can be a challenge, but bus stops run frequently through the city center. The local government recently converted many free downtown parking spaces into paid, time-restricted spots during the week. Downtown is less than 2 miles from the University of Florida campus and UF Health Shands. "Gainesville is so centrally located, it doesn't take long to get anywhere," Bevilacqua says. "You can get to the beach in 45 minutes, to the springs in 30 minutes, or Orlando and Jacksonville within 90 minutes."
The center of downtown Gainesville, is lively, with many food and entertainment choices.
There is a lot of student housing in downtown Gainesville, with two colleges located their.
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Attending nearby Alachua County schools
Students to the east of Main Street attend Joseph Williams Elementary, while those to the west are zoned for Carolyn Beatrice Parker Elementary. The schools have B-minus and B grades, respectively, from Niche. Sixth to eighth graders attend Lincoln and Kanapaha Middle Schools, which have a B and B-plus, respectively. All high schoolers are zoned for Gainesville High, which earns an A.
Welcome to Joseph Williams Elementary School, were they strive for the best education.
Lincoln Middle School were the slogan is "Return of the Terrier".
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Crime
The community has a CAP Index Crime score of 8 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4. This above-average score is driven largely by high scores for property crimes.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Laura Gunter,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Cynthia Moore Chestnut Park
Sweetwater Park
Morningside Nature Center
Bo Diddley Community Plaza
Transit
Airport
Gainesville Regional
13 min drive
Bus
Hampton Inn Hotel
Bus
Westbound SW 2nd Avenue & SW 2nd Street
Bus
Gru Administration Building
Bus
Salvation Army
Bus
Alachua County Courthouse
Bus
Bo Diddley Community Plaza
Bus
The Continuum
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Downtown Gainesville
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
7
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
9
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
9
4
Larceny
10
4
Crime Score
8
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown Gainesville Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Gainesville, Gainesville sell after 10 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Gainesville, Gainesville over the last 12 months is $460,000.
Welcome to the Laurel Oak Inn! Prepare to step back in time, to the 1800’s, when this street was one of the most sought after addresses in north central Florida. 130 years later, not much has changed. Built in 1885, this stunning Victorian mansion-turned-inn became the crown jewel of the street. In 2005, she underwent a major restoration, bringing her back to her youthful charm. Nearly 1,000
Jonathan MillsKELLER WILLIAMS GAINESVILLE REALTY PARTNERS
Welcome to The Hodges House, a historic mansion turned QUADPLEX! Built in 1887 and retaining most of its original charm, this is a multifamily investment property like no other. You’ll be blown away by the incredible attention to detail and the timeless victorian architecture, including the one-of-a-kind turret, making this historic home feel more like a fairytail castle. As you walk across the
Jonathan MillsKELLER WILLIAMS GAINESVILLE REALTY PARTNERS
This is the aptly named Camellia Rose Inn. Built in 1903 and surrounded by dozens of mature camellia, Azelea, and rose bushes, this Victorian estate-turned-inn is brimming with rich history and charm. Situated on one of the oldest streets in north central Florida, this home is the historic district’s grande dame and is walking distance from downtown. The crown jewel of this property is the
Jonathan MillsKELLER WILLIAMS GAINESVILLE REALTY PARTNERS
Nestled in the heart of downtown Gainesville, Arlington Square Apartments provides a small-town community atmosphere just steps away from The Hippodrome Theater, charming boutique shops, and some of the city's finest dining establishments. Offering over 50 unique floor plans, our apartments showcase distinctive features such as beautiful bay windows, cathedral ceilings with skylights, custom
39 loft-style 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and studio apartments equipped with full kitchens and washer/dryer units, a resident-only fitness center and a ground floor devoted entirely to local retail and dining. All of these exciting components will come together to create one groundbreaking development positioned in the center of our vibrant downtown neighborhood.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Laura Gunter,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,006
Median Age
31
Population under 18
16.7%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
9.2%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$38,159
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$64,344
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.5%
College Graduates
60.5%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
34.8%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
71.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
43°F
Average Summer High Temperature
91°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
99/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
92/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
