Citing technical reasons, the county commission kicks a $18-million can down the road.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: July 24, 2024
Host: Three public housing construction projects in Sarasota are up in the air after the county took back part of the funding it was going to provide. Ramon Lopez has that story.
Ramon Lopez: The Sarasota Housing Authority’s grand opening of its latest affordable housing complex, Cypress Square, went off without a hitch on Monday, July 8th. But the event was soon followed by a setback for the Housing Authority.
While the $33 million Cypress Square project located in Sarasota’s Newtown is now complete, Sarasota County commissioners denied funding for three additional Housing Authority projects, leaving them for now in fiscal limbo. Cypress Square adds 84 affordable apartment units in three three-story buildings to the city of Sarasota. Sarasota Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch likes what she sees.
Jen Ahearn-Koch: This project is 84 units, and they have not only 1, 2, and 3, but also 4 bedroom units. And that demonstrates the Housing Authority’s unique ability to be responsive to the growing and changing needs of our community, and to continue to be a solid and reliable partner in providing very real affordable housing.
RL: Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith — who is an architect — says Cypress Square will help remove the common public housing stereotype.
Mark Smith: This is a great project. When you think about affordable housing people get scared of workforce housing because they think, “Oh my god, we’re going to be housing those people, and not in my neighborhood.” But the fact of the matter is, these are folks that work for a living.
RL: Sarasota Housing Authority Chief Executive William Russell says Cypress Square is part of an attainable housing plan that has developed 565 units in eight projects since 2009.
William Russell: This is our ninth grand opening in the last 15 years. So, that’s pretty significant. And it’s actually our third grand opening in the last two years. So, we’ve been extremely busy. But, as I said, each and every grand opening, I think it’s really important to stop and appreciate what’s been developed, and to celebrate each and every development that we can partner and bring to fruition, because we all know there’s a shortage of affordable housing in our community.
RL: Russell has several additional projects underway, including Cypress Square Phase 2, Lofts on Lemon Phase 2, and Central Gardens. Cypress Square part 2 would replace 50-year-old barracks-style housing. The second phase of Lofts on Lemon would add 100 apartments. And the four-story, 39-unit Central Gardens would be built across from Janie’s Garden along Central Avenue in Newtown.
But the county commissioners denied $18.5 million in funds for the three projects, despite being highly ranked Housing Authority projects supported by the city of Sarasota. Jen Ahearn-Koch.
JAK: The future holds a Cypress Square 2, a Lofts on Lemon 2, and Central Gardens, more affordable housing for families in our community. And this is real affordable housing. So I wanted to just reiterate our support of the City of Sarasota. for the Housing Authority’s request for funding for these three projects going forward.
RL: County Commissioners said the issue involved expiration dates for when the funds must be spent. Stuck at an impasse, they decided not to decide.
Mike Moran: The will of the Board, do you want to move on to 13? Do you want to, Commissioner?
Other Commissioner: Chair, yeah, could we … my recommendation and ask would be to visit the other items on the agenda, and then come back to this a little later.
MM: Sure. Even if we went 13 back to 12, or we’re at a standstill. It’s obvious. Is that okay? Will the board, anybody have an objection for me to going on to 13 and we’ll come back to 12 either immediately or somewhere down the line.
RL: But Sarasota City Mayor Liz Alpert saw things differently.
Liz Alpert: And I understand your concern that the funds allocated for the Sarasota Housing Authority for Central Park and Lofts on Lemon 2 might not be spent in time, triggering a loss of these funds for that purpose. But Mr. Russell’s letter to you indicates that Central Park will be completed by your contractual deadline of December 31st, 2025. And that Lofts on Lemon 2, although possibly not complete by then, would meet the deadline for the U.S. Treasury for expenditures of the funds by 12/31/26 and would likely be completed by that date.
RL: As the county funding impasse stalls the projects, Jen Ahearn-Koch is worried about the three affordable housing projects in her town.
JAK: The Sarasota Housing Authority, Cypress Square, Lofts on Lemon, and Central Gardens scored 2, 3, and 4 out of 19 applications for funding. So it’s a really good application of the total funds. They agreed last minute to do the ARPA funds, but not the Resilient SRQ funds. And that represents 18.5 million dollars, 7.7 and 4.5 for those three projects. There is sort of caveat potential in September, but without going into detail, it does not look so great unfortunately.
RL: This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
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