After decades as a sprawling big-box and strip center shopping area, Butler Plaza will soon get into the mixed-use business with development of the Butler Town Center with apartments over first-floor retail and restaurants, a seven-story Hyatt hotel and higher-end specialty shops around walkable, landscaped main streets.
The town center has long been planned as part of the planned development that includes the 758,000-square-foot Butler North expansion now under construction, but more details are available since Butler Enterprises submitted a major development plan review that was approved by the city’s Development Review Board on March 22.
Butler expects to receive its development order allowing demolition and construction of the eastern part of Butler Plaza after the Gainesville City Commission approves the second and final reading of a rezoning to include the current Olive Garden building in the planned development at its April 7 meeting.