[Carolgre]

My husband and I are researching areas to retire to. We currently live in NYC and are really tired of the fast pace and coldness of the city. We visited Gainesville a few times and liked it but just have a few questions about possibly living there full time. We do not drive (being New Yorkers, we never really needed to). Is it possible to live in Gainesville and NOT drive? We are thinking if possibly getting an apartment in the downtown area. Would we be able to walk to supermarkets, libraries, banks, drugstores, restaurants, vets, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Carol

[mg83]

Short answer - no... well, it may be difficult.

You know how Florida supermarkets are... for the most part, they are not located in "downtown" areas so much as they are in strip malls... it's just the way it is.

I don't know what the residential situation is in "downtown" Gainesville. I know there are restored houses in the DuckPond area... old houses that are actually beautiful now. Again, I don't know how much they are or if there are apartments actually downtown.

If you are downtown you can easily walk to the Alachua library - it's pretty nice. There are nice restaurants downtown as well. Just watch out because there are lots of bums and transients near the RTS downtown location. This site will help you RTS - Regional Transit System, Gainesville Fl. It's the information about Gainesville's municipal transportation...

I know there are not supermarkets downtown... there may be a small, local pharmacy though.

[mg83]

You'd need a car... but Ward's grocery is so awesome.

[miamiblue]

My sister lives in an apartment in downtown Gainesville and works for UF. I do not think there is a grocery store within walking distance to the downtown area, or even the surrounding downtown neighborhoods. There are some condos downtown and a few apartment options, but keep in mind that there will be many students in the rental communities. As mg83 said, there are historic sections around downtown that have some restored homes that are absolutely beautiful, but there are also some that are still in need of TLC, so even these lovely neighborhoods can be spotty. Those areas are my some of my favorite neighborhoods in Gainesville. However, it is still a relatively safe area especially compared to NYC.

You would have no problem with walking to restaurants, libraries, and banks (I think) in the downtown area. I'm not sure about a drugstores and vets, but UF has one of the best vet schools in the country and there are many veterinarians in Gainesville.

There are a lot of new condo projects being built in Gainesville if that is what you are looking for. I would say that it is a nice place to live (I went to college at UF, as did my sister), but keep in mind that if you live close to the university there will be a LOT of students around since the city is pretty much centered around UF. If you are OK with that, it is a nice little town.

[billymillennium]

Im new on this site, Im moving to Gainesville in 3 weeks, got a job there. Im not worried about the hurricanes or tornadoes,I live in northern Indiana so severe weather conditions are no stranger to me. only one thing concerns me, Is there alot of aligators and crockadials there???? here we have deers( i hit 7 this year with a miniVan, more then the hunters with a gun ever got lol) I never seen a real aligator or corckadial and I was wandering sre thay like everywhere there??? do thay get in buildings, houses cars??? can thay run fast??? do thay climb trees???? i do know thay eat people, Is there any percautions i should take??? man just thinking about it makes me wander if its safe to even sit on a log there just incase its not really a log.
Please give me advice about this, that really concerns me
Thank You!

[GR82BAGATOR]

Originally Posted by billymillennium

Im new on this site, Im moving to Gainesville in 3 weeks, got a job there. Im not worried about the hurricanes or tornadoes,I live in northern Indiana so severe weather conditions are no stranger to me. only one thing concerns me, Is there alot of aligators and crockadials there???? here we have deers( i hit 7 this year with a miniVan, more then the hunters with a gun ever got lol) I never seen a real aligator or corckadial and I was wandering sre thay like everywhere there??? do thay get in buildings, houses cars??? can thay run fast??? do thay climb trees???? i do know thay eat people, Is there any percautions i should take??? man just thinking about it makes me wander if its safe to even sit on a log there just incase its not really a log.
Please give me advice about this, that really concerns me
Thank You!

I live near and work in Gainesville and I have only seen Alligators near Lake Alice. There are not crocodiles here and while there are gators all over Florida you may never encounter one, it just depends. Do not fear being attacked by an Alligator in your home, car or even when out for a jog. Also, Gainesville is North-Central Florida and we have very little to worry about with regards to hurricanes or tornado's. Yes they can happen but it is not like on the coast, panhandle or South Florida. I think you'll be just fine here!

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by mg83

Short answer - no... well, it may be difficult.

You know how Florida supermarkets are... for the most part, they are not located in "downtown" areas so much as they are in strip malls... it's just the way it is.

I don't know what the residential situation is in "downtown" Gainesville. I know there are restored houses in the DuckPond area... old houses that are actually beautiful now. Again, I don't know how much they are or if there are apartments actually downtown.

If you are downtown you can easily walk to the Alachua library - it's pretty nice. There are nice restaurants downtown as well. Just watch out because there are lots of bums and transients near the RTS downtown location. This site will help you RTS - Regional Transit System, Gainesville Fl. It's the information about Gainesville's municipal transportation...

I know there are not supermarkets downtown... there may be a small, local pharmacy though.

I came from Manhattan and was a 22 year old single. I didn't know how to drive, let alone have a car. Sorry, I cannot remember where the apartment was, but it seemed it was in the middle of nowhere. I walked to the supermarket and remember it being very far away.

However, just in driving around Gainesville last June, it seemed a hell of a lot more built up than when I lived there 30 years ago. It was just a sleepy little college town back then.

[GR82BAGATOR]

Originally Posted by HockeyMom72

I came from Manhattan and was a 22 year old single. I didn't know how to drive, let alone have a car. Sorry, I cannot remember where the apartment was, but it seemed it was in the middle of nowhere. I walked to the supermarket and remember it being very far away.

However, just in driving around Gainesville last June, it seemed a hell of a lot more built up than when I lived there 30 years ago. It was just a sleepy little college town back then.

It is more built up but I don't think it's very convenient to walk to anything. Even if you live in Haile it's quite a distance to walk to Publix and there isn't anywhere that you could walk to the mall from. We do have RTS but my guess is that you would want a car.

Good Luck!

[hannahtee]

I really liked living in Gainesville, but quite honestly I think you will need a car to enjoy all it has to offer. There is a bus system, but I never had to use it so I can't really vouch for how good it is (although to hear my friends talk, I wouldn't want to have to rely on it all the time). And I wouldn't want to have to walk outside for any great distance in the middle of summer.

[StJohnCane]

Moved to gainesville from Chicago. Sweet town. I would say in about 3-5 years you will have a very nice urbanized downtown which will include a grocery store. Nice eateries in downtown and only getting better. Give it time. The living areas around campus are surprisingly dense. As the posters have stated, lots of students in the area. Good luck with your move.