City of Gainesville Destroys Historic Thelma Boltin Center After Judge Denies Emergency Petition

Workers with the City of Gainesville destroyed the Thelma Boltin Center yesterday under orders from the Gainesville City Commission. Aside from Commissioner Desmond Duncan-Walker, all commissioners voted for the center to be destroyed on September 4. 

Supporters of the demolition argued the site has been in disrepair for years, while dissenters wanted it to be restored. Commissioners say the site will be "reimagined" to honor Thelma Boltin, the late Florida Folk Festival director who the building was named after. 

On September 12, Gainesville resident Melaine Barr filed an emergency petition in Alachua County Civil Court to halt the City of Gainesville’s demolition. 

The petition states, “The City has failed to comply with its own codified requirement of providing a 90-day notice period before undertaking demolition of a historic structure…  The City Commission Agenda was published Friday, August 29, six days prior to the meeting, and citizens were not sent an email notice until 7:37 AM on Tuesday, September 2. The City Commission discussed the item on September 4 at 1:00 PM. Staff recommendation was complete demolition, which reversed the course of the present path of renovation and preservation. Staff recommendation was not indicated in the email notice.”

The petition references that the Alachua County government made a request to the City of Gainesville to explore efforts to restore the center. “Immediate demolition would render this request moot before it can be meaningfully considered,” the petition states. 

According to the petition, “Private parties and preservation advocates are currently gathering resources to purchase and restore the Center. The City's rush to demolish forecloses this lawful and reasonable alternative.”

Judge Donna Keim denied the petition one day after it was filed.

Update: Prior to the demolition, the City of Gainesville published the following statement: