SAVE MILLHOPPER ROAD !

News Articles and Up-Dates on the SpringHills Project

Gainesville Sun April 29, 2007 Concessions by the developers of Springhills just days before a public hearing have drawn positive interest from Alachua County officials, but officials caution that concerns about the cost of roads still remain... Springhills developer offers $91M

Gainesville Sun April 27, 2007 More than 20 years ago the noted UF ecologist and acclaimed natural history writer, Archie Carr, contributed to a report that helped in the preservation of the San Felasco State Preserve, which borders the area of the proposed Springhills project...Springhills goes against legacy of Archie Carr

Gainesville Sun April 27, 2007 Springhills is an expensive "deal" for county taxpayers... Springhills deal amounts to corporate welfare

Gainesville Sun April 25, 2007 Pollute the aquifer? No... Springhills is about money

Gainesville Sun April 24, 2007 We have decided how we want Gainesville to grow... Stick to the original plan

Gainesville Sun April 22, 2007 Alachua County's Comprehensive Plan is the vision of what we want our community to be. Vote against Springhills

Gainesville Sun April 19, 2007 One might sympathize with the " frustrations" of Bobbie Hall (April 12) about the Springhills development, except that the facts are otherwise... County shouldn't retreat from its land use plan

Gainesville Sun April 18, 2007 The state's leading growth management watchdog group gave support to opponents of the Springhills development Tuesday night when 1000 Friends of Florida Director Charles Pattison said the project will create costly sprawl...Residents assemble to oppose Springhills

Gainesville Sun April 18, 2007 The recent advertisements in The Gainesville Sun, paid for by the Pennsylvania developer PREIT to promote Springhills, the proposed massive development near NW 39th Avenue and I-75, remind me of the joke about heaven vs. hell... Springhills sales pitch shouldn't be believed

Gainesville Sun April 18, 2007 On April 10, Patrice Boyes, advocate for the proposed Springhills amendment, argued in The Sun that the county planning staff has "flip-flopped their position since last year," regarding the proposed amendment, and that the "facts supporting the project" remain the same as when it was "approved" last year... Springhills recommendation was consistent with DCA

Gainesville Sun April 18, 2007 The citizens of this county do not want Springhills. We don't need it and we certainly cannot afford it... Don't throw out Comp Plan

Gainesville Sun April 16, 2007 As president of the Coalition for Responsible Growth,.. Growth to have Devastating Effects on Alachua County

Gainesville Sun April 13, 2007 Our eyes tell us that the old inner city is exploding, with new 3- and 4-story condominiums and apartment units... Unbridled Growth has found a supporter

Gainesville Sun April 10, 2007 The massive Springhills development should not be approved as proposed because of traffic it will create and the construction of too much retail space, according to Alachua County growth management officials... County Staff Says Reject SpringHills

Gainesville Sun April 7,2007 A $3.5 billion corporation demands approval to further enlarge and intensify its Springhills development. If the County Commission doesn't buckle under, The Sun claims that "piecemeal development" and "little common planning" will appear... Sun’s Claims Are Hogwash

Gainesville Sun April 3, 2007 was born and raised in Gainesville and have known Millhopper Road all my life. I have never lived off this road... SpringHills is Not What Gainesville is About

Gainesville Sun March 23, 2007 Alachua County development rules subsidize large retailers at the expense of small businesses, a planning expert said Thursday...Expert Says County Helps Large Retailers at Expense of Small Business (3/27)

Gainesville Sun April 1, 2007 Exactly what are the long-term costs all Alachua County residents will pay to subsidize the massive and complicated Springhills development... Growth should enhance, not destroy communities

Gainesville Sun March 31, 2007 Gridlock. Imagine being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic when taking your children to school, going to work, or running errands. Imagine being late if you don't leave home... It's a plan for gridlock

Gainesville Sun March 29, 2007 Pennsylvania businessman and developer of Springhills, Douglas Grayson (March 11) made it sound like Gainesville couldn't survive without his new northwest development... Developers go home

Gainesville Sun March 28, 2007 I have been following the Springhills development for a number of years... Springhills raises questions about county's future

Gainesville Sun March 27, 2007 In Saturday's Talking Back by Ray Ashton ("Springhills will damage our environment,"...Correction

Gainesville Sun March 26 2007 Concerning Angelina Jolie adopting yet another child from outside the United States... Local Impact of Generous Acts (3/26)

Gainesville Sun March 25, 2007 As an interested observer of the Springhills DRI project, I think it is important to provide some additional perspectives on what we all face... Springhills will erode comprehensive plan

Gainesville Sun March 25, 2007 I am disappointed with Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) and their attorney, Patrice Boyes', attempt to accurately portray the evolution of the Springhills development... Developer should take more responsibility

Gainesville SunMarch 24, 2007 I was totally shocked at the Springhills editorial in The Gainesville Sun (March 11)... Springhills will damage the environment

Press Release March 22, 2007 Press Release Myths versus truths

Gainesville Sun March 20, 2007 The Sun's recent editorial, excoriating the opposition to the Springhills development makes me think that I am out of touch with the times... Springhills and cement plant are different situations

Gainesville Sun March 20, 2007 Recent articles in favor of the Springhills development have me incensed... We don't want South Florida

Gainesville Sun March 20, 2007 Last week I made a very unwise choice. I drove from Waldo Road towards I-75 on 39th Avenue at around 5 p.m. More traffic congestion

Gainesville Sun March 18, 2007 The Gainesville Sun regularly laments citizen apathy, as when only11 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in an election...The Sun's editorial staff should research the facts

Gainesville Sun March 17, 2007 Which development model should government subsidize, Springhills or University Corners and Gainesville Greens?...Time for us to take a hard look at growth

Gainesville Sun March 15, 2007 This weekend the Springhills development people launched a coordinated media effort... Springhills spin begins

Gainesville Sun March 13, 2007 Smart planned growth is not anti-business. The local hired-gun attorney for the Pennsylvania development company is accusing the citizens, Alachua County commissioners and their staff of being "anti-business."... Planned growth is smart

Gainesville Sun March 13, 2007 Life is more than a shopping experience. I was infuriated by the letter from the professional woman who feels she needs to drive or fly out of Gainesville to shop for clothes and furnishings...Gainesville has plenty of high-end shopping

Gainesville Sun March 11, 2007 Concerning the Springhills development proposed expansion: I live off 39th Avenue in the Summercreek subdivision.. Springhills to worsen traffic

Gainesville Sun March 9, 2007 In 1999, the Alachua County Commission approved the development plan for Springhills, inserting in the plan various provisions to mitigate the impact of that development on the surrounding area... Its not our fault that 'market conditions' changed

Gainesville Sun March 8, 2007 The proposed expansion of SpringHills development must be voted down by the Alachua County Commission...Citizens can't afford SpringHills

Gainesville Sun February, 27, 2007 OK, I'll 'fess up, I'm not a native Floridian so that makes me part of the growth that concerns every taxpayer, resident and elected official in the state of Florida.... SpringHills revision is the problem

Gainesville Sun February, 27, 2007 Alachua County and the developers of SpringHills could not come to an agreement over roads and other issues, so county officials will recommend the County Commission in May deny proposed... SpringHills expansion encounters roadblock

Gainesville Sun February, 25, 2007 Between a proposal to more than double impact fees for roads and a decision to seek more money from SpringHills for road improvements, Alachua County may be sending developers a message... Commission considers hiking impact fees to cover the cost of progress

Gainesville Sun February, 25, 2007 According to the county representative who answered my question at the recent public meeting in regard to the impact of traffic on Millhopper Road... County commission should listen to opposition

Gainesville Sun February, 18, 2007 Brian Taylor (Feb. 7) expresses his opinion that the City Commission is interested only in growth that brings in tax revenues... When have we grown enough?

Gainesville Sun February, 17, 2007 An expanded list of road improvements totaling $120 million will be presented to the Alachua County Commission when commissioners consider whether the sizeable SpringHills mixed-use project can go forward, officials said Friday... Roadwork tied to project at $120M

Gainesville Sun February, 17, 2007 In a Feb. 27 (correction January 27) Sun article titled "Roads a pivotal issue in SpringHIlls debate," Patrice Boyes, the attorney representing the Pennsyvlania Real Estate Investment Quote was misleading

Gainesville Sun February, 16, 2007 The stores haven't been built but a different kind of hard sell is in full swing for the proposed SpringHills development...SpringHills debate rages over traffic

Gainesville Sun February, 15, 2007 I don't consider myself anti-growth, but I believe in responsible growth. Anti-growth creates a stagnant community, responsible growth a vibrant one... Original Springhills plan was responsible growth

Gainesville Sun February, 12, 2007 What do you do for an encore after the nightmares of planned congestion such as Butler Plaza on Archer Road and The Oaks Mall...Creating a traffic nightmare

Gainesville Sun February, 10, 2007 I don't consider myself anti-growth, but I believe in responsible growth. Anti-growth creates a stagnant community, responsible growth a vibrant one. Original SpringHills plan was responsible growth

Gainesville Sun February, 10, 2007 Here we go again. An out-of-town developer wants to super-size the original plans, and then cries foul when we don't want it... Don't super-size SpringHills

Gainesville Sun February 6, A "declaration of nuclear war on the city" was an apt characterization by Gainesville City Commissioner Jack Donovan of the SpringHills development in northwestern Alachua County... Donovan was right 2007

Gainesville Sun February 5, 2007 In 2015, the SpringHills proposed retail square footage (1.5 million square feet) would still exceed unmet retail demand by more than 129,000 square feet... Citizens should be considered

Gainesville Sun February 4, 2007 We, as citizens of Gainesville, need to ask ourselves if yet another massive development project filled with more homes and more big box stores and corporate chain restaurants is really necessary... Stop future development

Gainesville Sun February, 3, 2007 In his letter of Jan. 31 Bill Pepper states that Gainesville is "badly-under stored and needs an alternate place to shop" as an argument for the benefits of the proposed SpringHills development... Under-stored indeed

Gainesville Sun February 3, 2007 Patricia Sander's 1-25 letter titled "We can't have it both ways" typifies the lack of foresight and responsibility toward stewardship of our lands Question growth for a better future

Gainesville Sun February 1, 2007 There was a dead deer on the side of Millhopper Road the other day. It was a doe, and she looked pregnant... Don't make this another Orlando

Gainesville Sun January 31, 2007 In "We can't have it both ways," (Jan. 25), Patricia Sanders misses the point. The Coalition for Responsible Growth and many other citizens speaking against SpringHills are not anti-growth... Responsible growth is the issue

Gainesville Sun January 28,2007 Will the northwest suburban residents who crowded into City Hall Monday night asking for help in stopping the proposed SpringHills development accept Commissioner Ed Braddy's invitation to become Gainesville residents Elastic'Gainesville

Gainesville Sun January 27,2007 Imagine a single development with more retail space than Butler Plaza and somewhat fewer residences than Haile Plantation How big is too big?

Gainesville Sun January 27,2007 This is Gainesville, where roads lead to conflict.
The costs for road work necessary to handle traffic from SpringHills promise to be a complicated but key factor when the Alachua County Commission considers the project, possibly in April....Roads a pivotal issue in SpringHills debate

Gainesville Sun January 27,2007 After attending the recent City Commission's discussion on the proposed SpringHills development a few comments are in order... SpringHills will eat up area's business potential

Gainesville Sun January 26, 2007 Many thanks to Cindy Swirko for her Jan. 22 article on the proposed SpringHills development, and more particularly on the proposed Newberry Village development. One very telling number, however, was omitted from the statistics provided for the... A bad county decision

Gainesville Sun January 26, 2007This week the breathless announcement came from both the Gainesville and Alachua County public relations shops... Gators and gorillas

Gainesville Sun January 24,2007
A reference to the proposed SpringHills development as a potential nuclear bomb made at Monday night's Gainesville City Commission meeting drew a verbal reaction…
SpringHills brouhaha: County, city trade barbs

Gainesville Sun January 24, 2007
The Gainesville City Commission Monday evening resolved to "strongly oppose" the massive SpringHills development…
City vs. county

Florida Alligator. January 23, 2007
Reprint by permission from the Independent Florida Alligator, Campus Communications, Inc. Copyright 2007...
"Upset residents protest construction of new complex."

Gainesville Sun January 23
The Gainesville City Commission offered strong opposition to the SpringHills development on NW 39th Avenue…
City votes to 'strongly' oppose SpringHills

Gainesville Sun January 22, 2007
The traffic tipping point may have been reached in Alachua County...
Residents unite against increased traffic

Gainesville Iguana January 22, 2007 Massive traffic jams and pollution of local drinking water are among concerns about a proposed superdevelopment in Northwest Gainesville that has led residents to mobilize to block the project... Residents mobilizing to block expanded expanded supperdevelopment

Gainesville Sun January 21, 2007
On Jan. 11, Susan Sterner wrote in support of the proposed road extension between Millhopper Road and NW 39th Avenue...
Extending Millhopper Road will lead to another failure

January 17, 2007
Press Release

Gainesville Sun, January 7, 2007
The Alachua County Commission is considering a proposal that will destroy forever the Millhopper scenic road…
Residents object to commission's plan to change Millhopper Road

Gainesville Sun January 1, 2007
The SpringHills Development is retail, industrial and residential development...
Developers threaten Millhopper

Gainesville Sun October 10, 2006 Parks are one of the most frequently requested amenities in Alachua County... County should create a linear park

Gainesville Sun May 25, 2006 I was pleased to read Martin Fackler's May 19 Talking Back" piece titled "An ill-conceived project."... Reconsider SpringHills

Gainesville Sun April 25, 2006 Millhopper Road residents opposed to a plan to build a cut-through street from NW 39th Avenue have pitched an alternative - a bicycle/pedestrian greenway... Road's opponents pitch greenway

Gainesville Sun January 15, 2006 An interview with University of Florida President Bernard Machen, reported on Jan. 5 on WUFT-FM, calls to mind the letter by Jerry Stanford ... Springhills development is an unnecessary evil

Gainesville Sun December 27, 2005 I find it curious that The Sun gives not one drop of ink to the Alachua County commissioners' recent deliberations of SpringHills, the planned super-development at I-75 and NW 39th Avenue... What about SpringHills?

To read other articles about the SpringHills Project, prior to 2007 go to the Gainesville Sun Archives
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/search