SW 1st Avenue (Streatery)

Gainesville, FL

The SW 1st Avenue pedestrian thoroughfare is an innovative project in Downtown Gainesville to transform the corridor into a permanent pedestrian space that fosters walkability, public programming, and economic activity. The project’s origins can be traced back to 2020, when the City of Gainesville closed certain streets to allow for expanded outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2024, JBPro was selected by the City of Gainesville to create a conceptual design for this new pedestrian space, one that would also include various improvements to the roadway and infrastructure, such as stormwater drainage, accessibility, and lighting.

Our civil engineering team worked in conjunction with our landscape architecture team to design upgrades, including ADA improvements, lighting, street signage, pavement markings, and increased pedestrian safety measures. Specifically, renovations for the designated corridor include a curbless street with new, programmable, and themed outdoor lighting, electric power pedestals for food trucks and vendor stands, urban landscape design, and improvements to correct drainage issues.

In December 2024, JBPro collaborated with the City of Gainesville and the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) to host and facilitate an engaging public workshop to gather feedback on the conceptual design, potential materials, street furniture options, and anticipated usages. Following the results of the public opinion polls on the project, the City of Gainesville City Commissioners voted in February 2025 to advance the proposed design for the SW 1st Avenue Streatery. JBPro’s team is currently working through the next design phase, with construction anticipated to begin in late 2026.