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Moving to Gainesville or Tampa?
Moving can be stressful. On top of all the packing and planning, you probably have felt a little anxious moving to a new area. It takes time to get adjusted to a new home and a new neighborhood.
We want to make moving easier for you. That’s why we’re making lists of all the neighborhoods in Tampa and Gainesville that make them great cities to live in. We’ll be keying you in on the hot restaurants, attractions, and all the things that make these neighborhoods awesome.
Know Your Neighborhood: Innovation District
Founded on the principle of bringing the innovative studies at UF to practical application in the community, Innovation District was born. A place that exists in between academic and professional pursuits, Innovation District serves to establish a creative, communal space for students, professors, businesses, and residents.
Expanding on the existing Innovation Square, the neighborhood is now a bustling hub in Gainesville’s midtown area.
There’s lots to offer if you’re moving to Gainesville‘s Innovation District from walkability and convenience, to community events and cutting edge research, here are some of the great things that Innovation District has to offer!
Location
Straddling UF’s campus to the east and University Dr. to the north, the neighborhood is incredibly convenient in terms of accessibility. It’s location is very walkable, whether you’re heading to campus or checking out the nightlife in midtown.
Food and Drink
Being in such a great location means there’s plenty of great food and drink options! From student haunts to casual and upscale options, there’s a little something for everybody. Here are some of our favorites:
Bistro 1245/Leonardo’s 706
These two restaurants make up some of the best of the Innovation District’s food scene and they both have the same owners!


Bistro 1245 is serving up gourmet sandwiches and modern takes on classic American dishes.
Leonardo’s 706 brings you tastes of Italy and the Mediterranean with fresh, modern flavors.
Mothers Pub & Grill
Mothers is not your average sports dive. It may seem dingy from the outside, but Mothers is a Gainesville mainstay for a reason.
For starters, they’ve got a great selection of beers – for the craft connoisseurs as well as the college students on a budget. Plus, a full liquor bar.
They’ve also got a killer menu of all your favorite pub food favorites. And they’re famous for their signature hamburgers.
Collaboration/Innovation
The Innovation District was founded on the concept of collaboration in order to stir innovation.
Innovation Hub
Centered around that concept is Innovation Hub at UF. Innovation Hub is a tech-startup incubator. It exists to provide start-up businesses and professionals in the technology industry a communal resource to learn, collaborate, and grow.
The Innovation Hub provides workspaces, mentoring, and educational resources for tech-startups to grow their business.
Starter Space
Sharing the same values as the Innovation Hub, Starter Space serves to provide creative professionals and entrepreneurs with a collaborative business incubator.
Welcome Home!
We hope this gives you a small taste of what’s waiting for you in your new neighborhood! Living in Gainesville’s Innovation District is awesome. If you need help with your local moving, call us for a quote or fill out out this online form for a free estimate.