Recently the City has endured and rejected another attempt by a few local businesses to end the Streatery (SW First Ave between Main and the parking garage at SE Second St.)
There are plans to launch a landscaping program in October 2025 that will provide places for electric hookups for festivals and markets. Designs also include planting six new trees along the corridor; 11 existing oaks will be preserved. See the Alachua Chronicle article “Downtown street to remain closed to traffic” at tinyurl.com/Iguana2119 for more info.
This is great news, and those that are interested and support this should stay active and watch for meetings and planning workshops. Seeing the area come alive with dancing, festivals, and art markets, as well as an open walkable area, mark it an as yet undeveloped urban park with much potential.
Much credit on keeping vigilant for its preservation goes to the fine local business who regularly bring life to it, especially Danny Hughes at Loosey’s and Jacob Larson at the Bull, and as well as the fine folks at How Bazar, lead by Laila Fakhoury, who have been bring many new and younger folks to downtown with their diverse variety of events and activities.