Dear Supporters of UVS and Maguire Village,

Thank you for signing our petition to protect the beautiful trees and historic homes of our graduate student housing village at UF.  Today, we are asking for your help pressuring local officials to NOT SIGN OFF on the proposed Campus Development Agreement (CDA) with UF until UF removes the demolition of Maguire/UVS from its Campus Master Plan (CMP).  This is really the only chance for outside oversight on the University, so a very public rebuke will go a long way in our efforts.

This Tuesday, November 9th, the Alachua County commission will conduct its second and potentially final vote on the CDA, and we need as many people as possible to ask them to not approve it "as is."  It is Item 7, and the agenda link is here.  You can provide public comment by calling in, showing up, or emailing the commission ahead of time (bocc@alachuacounty.us).  The ask is simple -- that the Commission NOT APPROVE the CDA with UF unless either: 1) the Commission amends the motion on the CDA with the requirement to save Maguire/UVS, or 2) UF removes the demolition plans from their CMP.  If they need more time, then simply postponing the final vote until this is worked out is the best option (as they still have several months before they are required to decide according to Florida Statutes).  But if the CDA is approved with only vague assurances from UF, then UF will have no reason to change course.

Likewise, the City of Gainesville gets a final say on the CDA as well, and that vote will take place Thursday, November 18th.  We appreciate the City Commission's consideration so far (like at last Thursday's City meeting), but still, we ask that they demand more than just vague assurances from UF on "reprioritizing" graduate students.  The asks are the same as with the County, that they NOT APPROVE the CDA without amending it first to explicitly demand the saving of UVS/Maguire Village.  They can be emailed here (citycomm@cityofgainesville.org), or you can provide comment during the meeting (exact item number not yet set).

Remember, there is no harm to anyone if these decisions are simply delayed, but there is harm if they proceed and the irreversible destruction takes place.  Please do all you can to continue to speak out and spread our Petition, and hopefully we can save this treasured, beautiful, and culturally-important area together.  Push back whenever UF staff lies about these apartments' structural quality -- all buildings require upkeep, but that is no reason to destroy this wonderful community or ecosystem. 

Thank you again for your support!