City of Gainesville honors local historic preservation champions

City of Gainesville honors local historic preservation champions

Published on June 03, 2026

Gainesville Historic Preservation Officer Kathleen Kauffman (far left), Historic Preservation Board member Vivian Filer (seated, center) and Gainesville City Commissioner Ed Book (far right) join the 2026 Historic Preservation Award winners alongside board members at this year's ceremony.

Restoration projects on two of Gainesville's oldest homes were recognized during the recent City of Gainesville Historic Preservation Awards ceremony, which also honored efforts to preserve land of historical significance and protect cultural heritage.

2026 Exceptional Rehabilitation Awards

Two awards in the Exceptional Rehabilitation category were presented to property owners of homes built in the mid-1800s that have been restored to their former glory.

The house at 425 NE Third St., built in 1858 and relocated one-half block in 1894, suffered years of neglect before being purchased by Bradley Hunter in 2021. The complete rehabilitation of the house included restoration of the original wood walls, wood ceilings and windows in its front section. In addition to new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in the home, a separate two-story accessory dwelling unit was built on the property.

The second award acknowledged efforts to restore a home that had undergone significant alterations over time.

The house at 526 NE Sixth St., built in 1859 and currently owned by Stephen Towler and Lana Sendzimir, appears to have been relocated to its current site in 1927 from the end of the block, according to local historical maps. During that period, its verandas and chimneys were removed, and the house was converted into a duplex. Restoration of the property since 2023 included recreating the missing verandas, based on historic photographs.

In presenting the award, Gainesville Historic Preservation Officer Kathleen Kauffman also commended the "meticulous craftsmanship" and quality work of the contractors and painters.

"They removed 160 years of interior and exterior paint, hand-sanding the entire structure, inch by inch," said Kauffman. "I watched it happen. They had the most professional workers on-site who knew how to update the historic building in a sensitive manner."

Historic Preservation Board members accepted the awards on behalf of the property owners.

2026 E. L. Roy Hunt Award

E. L. Roy Hunt, a founder of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and the inaugural recipient of the award bearing his name, presented the 2026 E. L. Roy Hunt Award to the Alachua Conservation Trust.

The award recognizes an organization or individual for their exceptional leadership and contributions to historic preservation.

"They're the perfect recipient," said Hunt, who remarked on the Trust's history of land stewardship and conservation initiatives since 1988, including the recent purchase of 46 acres in Cross Creek.

"They've done an incredible job preserving land in the county through acquisition."

2026 Mary Besalski Barrow Award

The Barrow family nominated Gerald William Hammond for the 2026 Mary Besalski Barrow Award, named for the local preservation pioneer who restored 24 historic Victorian homes in Gainesville during the last quarter of the 20th century.

The award recognizes an individual who, through effort, commitment and perseverance, has protected Gainesville's rich heritage through the preservation and restoration of historic buildings that might otherwise have been lost to neglect, demolition or redevelopment.

Hammond's two daughters accepted the award for their father, who was honored posthumously.

Hammond was remembered at the ceremony as a master craftsman, carpenter and woodworker who dedicated his talents to repairs and maintenance projects on numerous historic properties including the Tigert-Barrow House, Padgett House, Deen House and Pound House.

2026 Restoration of Architectural Character Award

Steve Lara was presented with the 2026 Restoration of Architectural Character Award for his work to restore the original front porch on a circa 1927 home in the Northeast Historic District. The porch had been enclosed for 50 years.

"The front porch is a character-defining feature, typically found among Gainesville's oldest residential neighborhoods," said Kauffman. "We hope Mr. Lara's work will inspire others to consider bringing back the front porches that were such important gathering spaces for residents of this community."

2026 Vivian Washington Filer Award

Fourth-generation cattle rancher John "Ronnie" Nix earned this year's Vivian Washington Filer Award for championing the preservation of Gainesville's cultural heritage. In accepting the award, Nix emphasized the importance of transferring knowledge from one generation to the next and ensuring "our farmland stays farmland."

"My grandfather would say, 'Get some education in your head and some dirt under your feet because they can't take that away from you.'"

• Announcements
• Arts & Culture
• Business & Economy
• Environment
• Media Releases