ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 As school districts across Central Florida face tightening budgets, a new change to Florida\u2019s Live Local Act gives school districts authority to build affordable housing on district-owned land, even when local zoning wouldn\u2019t normally allow it.<\/p>\n
In Orange County, a proposal for 100 apartments on an 8.5-acre parcel near Catalina Elementary is already drawing opposition from residents of the neighboring Isle of Catalina community.<\/p>\n
Under Florida law, \u201caffordable\u201d housing generally refers to housing where eligible households spend no more than 30% of their income on rent or mortgage payments, taxes, insurance and utilities. Eligibility is tied to household income compared with the area\u2019s median income, with different income limits applying to different affordable housing programs.<\/p>\n
Not every apartment proposed near Catalina Elementary will fall into that category. Some units are expected to be considered \u201cattainable\u201d housing. Attainable housing generally refers to units priced for working households that may earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing programs but still struggle with market-rate housing costs.<\/p>\n
That distinction means rents, income requirements and eligibility could vary among apartments within the development.<\/p>\n
Catalina Elementary Principal Adriene Anderson sees potential benefits for teachers and students. She told News 6 that affordable and attainable housing near the school could help the district retain educators and, in turn, strengthen academic performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause when you have teachers that remain at your school, that helps with our student achievement,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n
Michael Hart is a reading teacher at Catalina Elementary. He said having housing closer to work would make a major difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do travel 30, depending on traffic, plus minutes to come over here,\u201d said Hart. \u201cSo, the idea of it being cost-affordable and being close sounds absolutely amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
But neighbors in the surrounding Isle of Catalina neighborhood are pushing back. They say an apartment-style development is not what they expected across from their single-family homes. Many residents have raised concerns about increased traffic and environmental impacts on nearby Clear Lake.<\/p>\n
Resident Larry Johnson, who built his home across from the school in 1990, said he worries the project could hurt his property value.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can see probably $100,000 going off the property value of my home immediately once that happens,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIf I should need to sell, it\u2019s going to be difficult because not very many people want to open their front door and look at an apartment complex,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In June, more than 50 letters and speakers were submitted during a City of Orlando zoning meeting opposing the proposal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t want this in your neighborhood, please, please, please don\u2019t put it in mine,\u201d one speaker said at the meeting.<\/p>\n