ALACHUA – The Alachua City Commission voted 4–1 on March 9, 2026, to authorize demolition of the Cleather H. Hathcock, Sr. Community Center, a city-owned facility long used for community gatherings and events at 15818 N.W. 140^th Street.

The vote clears the way for demolition of the existing building and allows the city to continue moving forward with plans for a new community center to replace the aging structure.

City Manager Rodolfo Valladares presented the item to commissioners, summarizing findings from two professional evaluations commissioned by the city to determine whether the decades-old building could feasibly be repaired, relocated or should be replaced.

“The assessments identified significant structural deterioration and several code compliance deficiencies,” Valladares told the commission.

The studies included a structural observation by GSE Engineering & Consulting and a facility condition and code compliance assessment by Monarch Design Group.

According to Valladares’ presentation and the accompanying reports, moisture damage in the crawl space beneath the building has compromised portions of the floor framing system, resulting in sagging joists, deteriorated wood members and corrosion on roof truss fasteners.

Engineers also reported that the building lacks hurricane tie-down connections required under modern construction standards and that the existing floor framing system does not meet current Florida Building Code load requirements for assembly spaces such as community halls.

The structural report concluded that rehabilitation of the building could cost roughly $275,000 to $550,000, depending on the scope of repairs required to address the damage and bring the structure up to current code standards.

If the city attempted to relocate the building, an option that had previously been discussed as a way to preserve the structure, engineers estimated that could add another $180,000 to $350,000 in costs, not including the necessary structural repairs.

By comparison, the report estimated that constructing a new building of similar size and function could cost approximately $625,000.

The Monarch assessment identified additional issues related to life safety and accessibility that would also have to be addressed if the building remained in use.

Inspectors found disconnected smoke detectors throughout the facility and noted the absence of horn-and-strobe emergency notification systems required for occupant alerts during fires or other emergencies.

They also reported exit signage directing occupants toward a storage room rather than an approved egress route and an exit door that does not meet modern emergency exit requirements.

Accessibility issues were also significant. The building’s restrooms and kitchen areas do not comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and inspectors concluded the existing floor plan likely lacks the space needed to reconfigure those areas without expanding the structure.

Taken together, the reports suggested that bringing the building up to current code standards would require extensive work and significant expense.

Vice Mayor Shirley Green Brown made the motion authorizing demolition of the existing structure and directing staff to continue moving forward with the design of the replacement facility. Commissioner Dayna Williams seconded the motion.

After Mayor Walter Welch asked for public comment and hearing none, the commission proceeded to vote.

Commissioners Williams, Jennifer Ringersen, Green Brown and Welch voted in favor of demolition.

Commissioner Jacob Fletcher cast the lone dissenting vote, raising a concern about how the agenda item appeared on the city’s website and whether it clearly signaled that demolition would be discussed.

“I access the agenda the same way the public would access this,” Fletcher said during the meeting. “There seems to be no notice to the public that this was a conversation we were going to have today. So, I’m going to have to vote no.”

The discussion itself was brief and followed months of public conversation about the future of the facility. City officials had previously reviewed the project during a commission meeting in September 2025 and later conducted community workshops to gather resident input on the design and programming for a replacement center.

During the meeting, Fletcher also asked whether the building’s condition meant certain activities would need to remain relocated.

Valladares confirmed that leaving the building closed until a replacement facility is constructed was the safest course of action for liability and public safety reasons.

Although the vote formally addresses the fate of the existing building, the discussion also marks another step toward a new community center that city leaders say will better serve Alachua’s growing population.

Concepts previously presented to commissioners include larger multi-purpose rooms capable of hosting major community events, vocational training space, computer labs and flexible meeting areas designed to accommodate both youth and senior programs.

Public feedback gathered through city workshops also highlighted interest in outdoor features such as a shaded stage or amphitheater and expanded space for community festivals and gatherings.

City officials have also discussed improving access to the site, including paving Northwest 159^th Lane and upgrading sidewalks and parking areas to make the facility easier to reach and fully ADA compliant.

For many residents, the Hathcock Center has long served as a neighborhood gathering place for meetings, celebrations and local programs. But the structural reports presented to commissioners reinforced what city leaders have increasingly concluded in recent years — that the building has reached a point where renovation could approach the cost of replacement.

With the demolition vote now approved, attention now turns to what comes next. City leaders say the goal is not simply to replace the aging structure, but to create a larger, more modern community gathering place designed to host the events, programs and celebrations that have long made the Hathcock Center a focal point of civic life in Alachua.

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