Communities
The city of Gainesville is divided into four regions. The Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast quadrants are divided by two major, intersecting roads: University Avenue and 13th Street.
The northwest section of the City is a combination of residential areas set between wooded lots and pastures. Many parts of this area are still considered ripe for real estate development. On average, the residents are older than the college-age University of Florida students who own homes in this part of the city.
For the most part, Northeast Gainesville is comprised of more homes and shopping centers clustered near the downtown areas and Main Street. A drive to the Gainesville Regional Airport will find several suburban-style neighborhoods and then a large section of pasture that separates the airport from the various housing developments.
Southeast Gainesville probably has the most diversity in terms of housing and population. In the upper northwest section of the region, is downtown Gainesville. Numerous apartment complexes, businesses, and restaurants are located here. However, as you travel further southeast, you will view homes on large properties, then forests and fields with a home or two along the way, finally seeing Paynes Prairie State Preserve.
The southwest section of the city has undergone a rapid expansion in the last ten years, both in apartment housing and in business complexes. While some type of building can be found on almost every street, there are few private homes. The few existing homes tend to be more expensive the closer you travel to the University. Residents of this area also experience more traffic congestion given the proximity to the University of Florida.