affordable housing and rents just took a major hit here (Miami: health insurance, loans)

[wondermint2]

Families could be locked out of new phase of downtown Sarasota Lofts on Lemon apartments

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...dcebef74&ei=36

The next phase of the downtown Sarasota Lofts on Lemon apartments may now exclude many families, after the Sarasota County Commission on Wednesday refused to act on a request to reduce the complex to 93 units Wednesday to ensure a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, similar to what was built in Phase I.

The Sarasota Housing Authority received $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding in March 2022 to help pay for what is still anticipated to be a $40 million 100-unit Phase II complex featuring four floors of residences on top of a three-story parking garage.

It is being built on the same land as the 128-unit Phase I complex, which opened in October 2022. One row of surface parking for the existing complex is being used by the proposed second phase and would be replaced by spaces in the garage.

But as architects studied the potential layout, the only way to carve out 100 units was to limit the inventory to 645-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bath apartments. Plans to include more bedrooms would have reduced the number to 93 units.

“There’s definitely a need for one-bedrooms but if you’re developing a family site, we would never purposefully or intentionally develop a family development to have all one-bedroom units,” Sarasota Housing Authority CEO William Russell told the Herald-Tribune in a phone interview, after the commission took no action on the request. “Families with kids, that wouldn’t work.”

100 units or bust

While Commission Chairman Ron Cutsinger and Commissioner Mark Smith, an architect, were willing to reduce the number of apartments to house families, Mike Moran, Joe Neunder and Neil Rainford were more concerned by a need to ensure that taxpayers get their money’s worth.

When Moran asked why the reduction was needed, Russell replied: “The problem is it’s a very very tight site; this is in the downtown core.”

Because three levels of parking were needed – in part to accommodate for the surface spots from Phase I – only four residential floors could be built.

Russell also pointed out that the ground floor included a 1,600-foot space, being designed as a possible “live-work space,” that would add some commercial space at the corner of Lemon Avenue and 9th Street.

Commissioners were, for the most part, unenthused by that thought.

“Does the community need a Starbucks in the retail space?” Moran said. “I don’t get that.”

Seizing on the thought that the new Live Local Act state law would allow Lofts on Lemon to exceed the neighborhood limit and add another story, Rainford asked if that was a possibility, with more commercial space available on the ground floor.

Russell told the board that had been discussed, and is still a possibility, but that it would cost more, and the project is still about $4 million short.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

I suppose this is good news for those mobile home owners at Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach. The new owner plans to keep the trailer park going along with new improvements. However the new owner refused to comment on raising lot rent/fees. So this could be a double edged sword.

One of Bradenton Beach’s last remaining trailer parks sells for $16.25 million

https://news.yahoo.com/one-bradenton...180802504.html

In a letter to Pines Trailer Park residents dated Sept. 12, Pines Park Investors LCC offered assurances that the trailer park would remain a trailer park.

“As you may be aware, we have recently acquired Pines Park, and we wanted to take this opportunity to assure you that we are committed to preserving and improving the park in hopes of ensuring its long-term success,” the letter said.

Pines Trailer Park and Sandpiper Mobile Resort, 2601 Gulf Drive N., also in Bradenton Beach, are the last remaining trailer parks on Anna Maria Island.

New Pines Park owners order rent increase

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/10/new...rent-increase/

Residents of the Pines Trailer Park *— once besieged with worries over the sale of their home sites — now may worry if they can afford to stay in their homes under the park’s new ownership.

Pines Park Investors LLC announced its purchase of the mobile home park, 103 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, Sept. 12 from longtime owners Jackson Partnership for $16,250,000, including all park-owned land, buildings and mobile homes, vehicles, equipment and materials.

On Sept. 29, 17 days after the announcement, residents received a 90-day notice from PPI announcing an increase in base lot rent throughout the park.

Currently, residents have a base rent of $625 a month.

The new rates, effective Jan. 1, 2024, increase the rents for mobile homeowners in the 87-unit park by $575-$850 per month.

The notice lists Jan. 1 monthly lot rates with the following changes:

Base rent, standard lot — $1,200;

Base rent, water-view lot— $1,350;

Base rent, waterfront lot — $1,475;

The notice said special use fees will be assessed consistent with tenant rental agreements, including the incorporated prospectus and rules and regulations.

[wondermint2]

Lakewood Ranch nonprofit works to build housing for foster youth

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...-foster-youth/

Harbor58 plans to build six villas to provide temporary housing for individuals aging out of foster care.

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

New Pines Park owners order rent increase

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/10/new...rent-increase/

Residents of the Pines Trailer Park *— once besieged with worries over the sale of their home sites — now may worry if they can afford to stay in their homes under the park’s new ownership.

Pines Park Investors LLC announced its purchase of the mobile home park, 103 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, Sept. 12 from longtime owners Jackson Partnership for $16,250,000, including all park-owned land, buildings and mobile homes, vehicles, equipment and materials.

On Sept. 29, 17 days after the announcement, residents received a 90-day notice from PPI announcing an increase in base lot rent throughout the park.

Currently, residents have a base rent of $625 a month.

The new rates, effective Jan. 1, 2024, increase the rents for mobile homeowners in the 87-unit park by $575-$850 per month.

The notice lists Jan. 1 monthly lot rates with the following changes:

Base rent, standard lot — $1,200;

Base rent, water-view lot— $1,350;

Base rent, waterfront lot — $1,475;

The notice said special use fees will be assessed consistent with tenant rental agreements, including the incorporated prospectus and rules and regulations.

Huge rent increase. Seems just to drive the current people out. That base rent is more than my house payment for my current 4 bedrom house.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by MOforthewin

Huge rent increase. Seems just to drive the current people out. That base rent is more than my house payment for my current 4 bedrom house.

I wonder how the new pricing compares w/ similar properties?

Were they being undercharged for years, & this was a huge one-time catch up?

If not, maybe the new owner is trying to upgrade the park to newer manufactured homes, & chase out the older delapidated homes.

Or, the new owner has other plans for the property, so is trying to chase all his tenants away.

We'd have to know a lot more to gain perspective, but no doubt, many of these residents will not be able to stay. Plus, it's very expensive to move a manufactured home to a new park, or even scrap their existing home.

As our area continues to grow, lower cost housing options, like this one, will be pushed out. It's part of our free market economy system...not very compassionate, but better than any other that I know of.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

New shelter project addressing homelessness in Manatee County

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...4007465b&ei=35

The District 2 Sheriff’s Office is in the process of becoming a 23,000 square foot, all-encompassing facility for people in need.

“It’s completely unique to Manatee County. We have never had anything like this before,” said Commissioner Amanda Ballard, who is leading the “Under One Roof Family Shelter” project.

The shelter will be a one-stop-shop for resources for homeless people or people at risk of becoming homeless. Families will be able to stay in the shelter for three or four months, and have access to services like counseling, tutoring for kids and help finding a job.

“This is going to be an opportunity for those kinds of families to get back on their feet and not fall into that cycle of poverty and homelessness,” said Ballard.

The county is currently working on finding a non-profit to operate the shelter on a day-to-day basis.

“The non-profit will have a vetting process to make sure the family fits the requirements that they are looking for, that they are willing to work with the programs that are here, and really want that hand up,” said Ballard.

The county is still working with an architect to see how many people the shelter will be able to accommodate at a time, but Ballard hopes to have a few families in the shelter by Christmas of this year.

Manatee commissioner leads way to turn MCSO building into transitional housing for those facing homelessness

For full article:

https://www.fox13news.com/news/manat...melessness.amp

[MOforthewin]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

I wonder how the new pricing compares w/ similar properties?

Were they being undercharged for years, & this was a huge one-time catch up?

If not, maybe the new owner is trying to upgrade the park to newer manufactured homes, & chase out the older delapidated homes.

Or, the new owner has other plans for the property, so is trying to chase all his tenants away.

We'd have to know a lot more to gain perspective, but no doubt, many of these residents will not be able to stay. Plus, it's very expensive to move a manufactured home to a new park, or even scrap their existing home.

As our area continues to grow, lower cost housing options, like this one, will be pushed out. It's part of our free market economy system...not very compassionate, but better than any other that I know of.

Most manufactured home communities, especially the 55 and over ones are not cheap though! By the time you buy the house, then rent the piece of land it's on, then you have the taxes on it too, then the association fees, then the insurance which can cost $$$$$ due tp being manufactured it's the same as owning a regular house or even MORE than owning a house.

My uncle lives in one of them in Pasco County.

Some of these people like it though because they have a lot of activities for them. Shuffleboard, pool, gyms, swimming, social gatherings. That's the reason they live in these communities. A lot of them people have money too where he lives and live up north in the summer. They like it because it's low maintenance and a lot of activities.

[wondermint2]

The Mitchell plans 183 Palmetto-area apartment units. It includes affordable housing

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/mitchell-plan...095000683.html

The Mitchell at Palmetto, an 183-unit apartment complex with at least 25% of units classified as affordable, is headed to the Manatee County Planning Commission.

Affordable housing should cost no more than 30% of a resident’s income for rent or mortgage payments. Those households may also be eligible for subsidized housing.

Planned for 9025 U.S. 41 N., Palmetto, the apartments would be built on a 9.16-acre triangular parcel between Bayshore Road, 89th Street East and U.S. 41.

[wondermint2]

Creekside Village apartment complex adds more affordable housing units in Bradenton

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...dcf4bd94&ei=43

Manatee County officials voted Thursday to approve a new affordable housing complex just south of State Road 70.

Creekside Village is a 198-unit apartment complex, with 50 of the units set aside for affordable workforce housing below market rates. In public comments submitted to the board, nearby residents said they were against the plan, citing noise, building height and environmental issues.

But board members described the project as "perfect," noting that it will provide much-needed affordability in an area where additional housing units are needed.

The 24-acre development sits at the end of 58th Avenue East, east of 33rd Street East. The apartment complex is set to bring four two-story buildings and three two-story buildings to the neighborhood.

[wondermint2]

Manatee County paves way for affordable veteran housing despite mysterious smear campaign

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/manatee-count...201557341.html

The Manatee County Commission approved an agreement for a long-awaited project that provides housing for homeless veterans, despite a concerted effort by a mysterious group looking to block the West Bradenton facility.

The board’s unanimous approval Tuesday paves the way for a 122-unit apartment complex along Cortez Road. The project will also feature wraparound services to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness get back on their feet.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation will acquire the 8.7-acre parcel at 4410 66th Street West and invest $20 million in the property, the organization said. County officials plan to vacate and relocate the Utilities Department, which is based on the property, in the coming months.