$331,838Average Value$238Average Price per Sq Ft1Home 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.
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On average, homes in Downtown Gainesville, Gainesville sell after 99 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Gainesville, Gainesville over the last 12 months is $350,000, down 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This property offers an unbeatable location close to downtown, with quick access to the business district, restaurants, shopping, and everything else the area has to offer. Within steps of the Innovation Hub @ UF and the 4th Avenue Food Park, which has some great places such as Fehrenbachers and Square House to name just a couple. The home is beautifully maintained inside. It’s versatile
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
2BR/1BA Downtown Apartment in Bed & Breakfast District, ceramic tile floors, off-street parking, walking distance to Depot Park, Downtown, and community garden. Water and sewer included in rent. Coin operated laundry on site. Occupancy limited to 3.
At Magnolia Residences, we believe that finding the perfect place to live is about more than just a roof over your head—it's about creating a luxury community where people feel at home, valued, and connected. We invite you to experience these values firsthand and let us help you find the perfect home. Magnolia Residences offers 39 loft-styled apartments in the heart of Downtown
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.
