Title:
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Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Seminole County Habitat for Humanity Community Services Funding Agreement in the amount of $375,000 for project and construction costs to develop affordable housing on five donated parcels of land located in the City of Sanford. District5 - Herr (Allison Thall, Community Services Director)
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Division:
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Community Services - Community Development
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Authorized By:
Allison Thall, Community Services Director
Contact/Phone Number:
Stacey Smithwick/407-665-2362
Background:
3500 Sanford Ave. in Sanford was originally owned by Boys Town Central Florida and in 2017 the Department of Community Services, Community Development Division purchased the property using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The intent was to upgrade and renovate the existing building while maintaining its original purpose of providing services and transitional housing to individuals experiencing homelessness or who were precariously housed.
Upon purchase of the property, it was discovered that the City of Sanford’s Zoning regulations had automatically converted the original multi-family zoning designation to a single-family residential zoning designation.
Staff began the task of re-zoning the parcel into five (5) single-family residential lots for the future development of affordable housing. During the rezoning process, staff commenced the demolition of the existing structure on 3500 Sanford Ave. In August 2021 the building was demolished.
In March 2021, in accordance with the Attainable Housing Key Strategic Priorities (KSP), the General Housing Trust Fund (Ordinance 2021-14) and the Community Land Trust (CLT) Ordinance (Ordinance 2021-15) were created. The CLT Ordinance authorized the County to collaborate with certified Community Land Trust (CLT) organizations for the development of long-term affordable housing projects.
With both instruments in place, staff recommended that this parcel serve as a pilot project utilizing the covenants of a CLT’s universal framework and gap funding from CDBG and the General Housing Trust Fund.
In January 2022, a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) was published seeking a certified CLT to partner with the county for the development of this parcel. Ultimately, Marion County Habitat for Humanity, a certified CLT, was selected to partner with Seminole County to make our pilot project successful.
Marion County Habitat is sub-contracting the construction of five (5) single-family, affordable homes for first-time homebuyers to Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka. Marion County Habitat for Humanity will manage and administer the tenets of the CLT.
Staff is allocating, in the Agreement, $375,000 of General Housing Trust Fund money for construction and related costs for Habitat of Seminole County to build five (5) single-family dwelling units.
Seminole County will also utilize up to an additional $250,000 of General Housing Trust Fund money and up to $250,000 of CDBG money for infrastructure costs, costs associated with the County converting the property from septic to sewer, and gap funding for construction costs.
Requested Action:
Staff requests the Board approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Seminole County Habitat for Humanity Community Services Funding Agreement in the amount of $375,000 for project and construction costs to develop affordable housing on five donated parcels of land located in the City of Sanford.