Duckpond Apartments for Rent

Known in Gainesville for being the first neighborhood of the city, Duckpond has its roots in the 1870s. Its unusual neighborhood name has its source in a storm retention pond that was constructed in 1926 adjacent to Sweetwater Creek to capture excess water in the neighborhood.

Located just northeast of downtown Gainesville, Duckpond was created from eight subdivisions to the neighborhood it is today, an area that is less than 300 acres. Much of the neighborhood is residential. Many of the most historic structures in the Duckpond community date to the 1880s to the 1930s. Nearly 300 of these are designated historic.

This pedestrian-friendly neighborhood once housed the leading businessmen of Gainesville, who used to work locally and come home to their families for lunch. This history is reflected in the 24 homes that date before the 1900s, many of them in the Queen Anne style, with beautiful gabled roofs and charming verandas. Later, the neighborhood became a leading social and intellectual center, and between 1900 and 1950 no less than four University of Florida presidents called Duckpond home.

Today this popular historic neighborhood is a combination of residential and commercial use, with Thomas Center Gardens and Office Complex replacing the former Hotel Thomas, named for one of the neighborhood’s most prominent residents, William Reuben Thomas. Today this Classical Revival style building is used to house the City of Gainesville’s Cultural Affairs office, as well as galleries full of art.

This beautiful neighborhood offers residents two local parks, Roper Park and Sweetwater Branch (which runs alongside the creek). There are plenty of bike lanes and tree-lined streets, many with ancient oaks.

Duckpond has an active neighborhood association, which sponsors community events, such as its recent winter carriage rides through the neighborhood.