City commissioners listened to both gratitude and complaints from citizens of northwest Gainesville's District 2 Thursday night at the second of four district commission meetings.
Most citizens who spoke said they live in the Stephen Foster neighborhood, close to sites where commissioners almost chose to build an industrial garage and now propose to build Project GRACE, a one-stop homeless shelter.
While some thanked the district's commissioner, Ed Braddy, for his work to stop the garage, others argued against the shelter.
"I walk my children to school every morning, and we already see homeless parading up and down," said James C. Miller Sr.
Braddy said he has always opposed the shelter.
Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan advised those concerned about the shelter to attend a hearing on April 3 where citizens will be able to speak out for or against the shelter.
Citizens also brought up problems with inadequate roads, neighborhood sexual predators and a lack of warning when issues important to their neighborhoods are discussed at city meetings.
Anita Krueger, who thanked Braddy for his help in decreasing noise complaints in her Springhill neighborhood, said she was disappointed by the turnout.
About 30 people attended, about 70 less than showed up for east Gainesville's District 1 meeting Feb. 1.
"People complain, but then we have these meetings and people don't show up," Krueger said.
Braddy said he thought the low attendance was a result of a change in the meeting's scheduled time from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Still, commissioners said they were pleased to hear from those who spoke up at the meeting and repeatedly encouraged the audience to continue voicing concerns.
"I'm sort of nostalgic for the Norman Rockwell painting where every guy stands up and says his piece," Braddy said.
"And you guys have done that tonight. That's pretty awesome."
