GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – Balancing community safety and business interests… that’s what the Gainesville City Commission hopes to accomplish by creating an ‘entertainment district’ downtown where patrons can bar hop and hang out outside with alcoholic beverages in hand.
In order to address safety concerns from the community and law enforcement, the commission wants to end a citywide open container ordinance that was put into effect during COVID. It allows people to possess and consume alcohol in public spaces from 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
But bar and restaurants owners voiced concerns that going back to the pre-pandemic open-container ban would hurt their businesses.
On Thursday at a special meeting, commissioners took two actions toward reaching a compromise. Commissioners approved on first vote a motion to end the open-container ordinance and then also approved on first vote a related ordinance that would create an Arts, Culture and Entertainment District.
The proposed district would be a delineated area of downtown where there’s the highest concentration of bars and restaurants including the commercial area of Grove Street. Customers could consume alcohol in public spaces inside district borders from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The city would install signage at the outer boundaries of the district, and licensed establishments would be required to post maps to keep patrons informed.
Mayor Harvey Ward says this comes after months of conversation between the commission, law enforcement, and downtown business owners about the most effective way to improve public safety while continuing to support downtown establishments. “The goal is to achieve a compromise that honors both the concerns and hopes of most interested neighbors,” said Mayor Ward.
Gainesville Police Chief Lonnie Scott believes this would help the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) assign necessary resources downtown while increasing open container enforcement around the neighborhoods, parks, parking lots and other areas around the city where residents have asked for help.
“We looked at it and thought we can make that work. The businesses have an economic concern. We’re thinking about public safety across the community. We can meet in the middle and support the idea of a district,” said Chief Scott.
Neither the open container ban nor the proposed Arts, Culture and Entertainment District are official. Both require one more city commission vote. The issues will come before the commission again on Thursday, October 26. If approved at second reading, they are expected to become effective on January 1, 2024.