A former Gainesville fire station soon could become a community cultural arts center.
The project, a collaboration between the University of Florida and city of Gainesville, could push out the many homeless people who have been pitching tents outside Old Fire Station No. 1 at 427 S. Main St., which is next door to St. Francis House.
Gainesville and UF officials say the center is just what the neighborhood needs.
City Commissioners endorsed the concept of the arts center last week, instructing City Manager Lee Feldman to come back with cost estimates for renovating the building, including the cost of bringing it up to code.