Housing still not allowed on Gainesville square; City council denies request to allow building on square to be used as apartment or condo space

The four Gainesville City Councilmen who were present at the Dec. 21, 2023, monthly meeting voted unanimously to deny a request for a variance that would allow a building on the northwest corner of the square to be marketed and used as residential space. 

The decision was made “Citing the lack of parking space owned by the building owner and lack of front, side or back yard,” minutes obtained by the Times after the meeting explain. 

The request had been made at the Nov. 9, 2023, meeting by local realtor Debbie Schilling Smith on behalf of her client, Dr. Janet Martin, who owns a building on the northwest corner of the square that was originally built as a hotel and therefore lends itself to residential space upstairs. The downstairs area of the building has been renovated as office space. 

Martin has listed the building for sale, and she and the realtor requested a variance to the ordinance, which would allow the space to be marketed to someone who may want to live in it or use it for short-term rental space.