Power District Neighbors · Gainesville, FL

Ask officials to
protect the live oak trees in the Power District.

On September 9, the GRU Authority approved demolition of ten vacant buildings in the Power District, starting as soon as the end of this month. Nothing in the public record commits anyone to protecting the mature live oaks that stand beside those buildings. Ask them to, today.

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These are the trees

Mature live oaks growing around the old wastewater administration building on the GRU Power District site next to Depot Park. Trees like these cannot be replaced in our lifetimes.

Aerial view of the live oak canopy stretching across the building and grounds.
From above: the canopy covers more ground than the building does.
A broad live oak canopy arching over the driveway in front of the brick wastewater administration building.
The oak canopy over the drive at the wastewater administration building.
Looking up the trunk of a live oak into its spreading, moss-hung branches.
Looking up into one of the oaks.
Aerial view of two vacant flat-roofed buildings with trees growing close along their edges.
The vacant buildings approved for demolition, with the trees at their edges.

The ask

We are not asking anyone to stop the demolition of vacant buildings. We are asking the people in charge to do three specific things before the equipment arrives:

  • 1 · Survey and mark the trees

    Have the City Arborist inventory the mature trees on the demolition parcels and publish their findings before work begins.

  • 2 · Protect them during demolition

    Require the contractor to install tree-protection barricades at the driplines and to route equipment, staging, and debris away from the root zones.

  • 3 · Carry protection into the sale

    When the property is listed, attach tree preservation for the heritage oaks as a condition of the disposition — the same way any private developer in Gainesville is required to account for regulated trees.

Who to write, and why each one matters

  • The GRU Authority

    The state-appointed board that controls the land and approved the demolition on September 9, and controls the terms of the sale. They can direct staff and the contractor to protect the trees.

    Authority members: HaslamDA@gru.com JacobsJA@gru.com LawsonCE@gru.com SkinnerRG@gru.com
    GRU communications: communications@gru.com

  • GRU General Manager / CEO

    Runs the utility day to day and manages the SGLC demolition contract. Can require tree protection in how the work is actually carried out.

    Ed Bielarski: bielarskiej@gru.com

  • Gainesville City Commission

    The City controls zoning, the land development code, and site plan review for whatever gets built here — including the tree regulations any future buyer must follow. They can speak for the canopy now.

    All commissioners: CityComm@gainesvillefl.gov

  • Gainesville City Arborist

    The City’s professional voice for the urban forest. An arborist’s assessment of these oaks, on the record, is the strongest protection they can get.

    Urban Forestry: urbanforestry@gainesvillefl.gov

Send the email

Copy the addresses and the letter below into your email app. Edit the letter to give it a personal touch, add why the trees matter to you, and sign your name.

HaslamDA@gru.com JacobsJA@gru.com LawsonCE@gru.com SkinnerRG@gru.com communications@gru.com bielarskiej@gru.com CityComm@gainesvillefl.gov urbanforestry@gainesvillefl.gov

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Why now

On September 9, 2026, the GRU Authority voted 3–0 to approve asbestos abatement and demolition of ten vacant Power District buildings, awarding the roughly $485,000 contract to SGLC. Demolition is expected to begin by the end of September and finish by Thanksgiving. (Alachua Chronicle, Sept 11, 2026) (Mainstreet Daily News, Sept 2026)

Once demolition equipment is on site, the window to protect the trees closes. Root damage from heavy machinery kills a live oak slowly — it can take years to show and nothing can undo it. That is why the ask is now, before the first machine rolls in.

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