$9M Affordable Conversion Breaks Ground in FL
The $8.8 million renovation of the Wayne Densch Center located in Orlando will transform 64 units of transitional housing to 77 high-quality apartments.
Wayne Densch Center Groundbreaking
Ability Housing, the Orange County Government, Florida Hospital/Adventist Health System and the town of Eatonville have recently broken ground on phase one of an $8.8 million renovation of the Wayne Densch Center, in Orlando, Fla.
The community is located in the northern suburbs of Orlando, at 100 Kingston Ct.. The remodeling will convert 64 units of transitional housing to 77 high-quality apartments. Half of the units will provide permanent supportive housing.
The buildings’ improvements will include:
- new roofs
- exterior renovations
- interior finishes
- ADA upgrades
- modernized kitchens
- electrical and air conditioning systems upgrades
Affordable housing solutions
Wayne Densch Center renovation rendering
Wayne Densch Center Inc., the owner and operator of the community for more than 18 years, donated the property to Florida Hospital in 2016, who partnered with Ability Housing to operate and transform the Wayne Densch Center into permanent housing. Orange County Government will contribute $2 million to the renovation.
“For the past two years, Orange County has been dedicated to creating affordable family housing for our residents, allocating $5 million in INVEST funds toward affordable housing solutions,” said Orange County Vice-Mayor Victoria P. Siplin in a prepared statement.
“This renovation will create some much needed quality, affordable housing in Central Florida. By increasing the number of apartments and implementing the permanent supportive housing model, the Wayne Densch Center will be able to help more individuals and families exit homelessness.”, said CEO & President of Ability Housing Shannon Nazworth, in prepared remarks.
Additional financing for the renovation came from the Florida Community Loan Fund Inc., the Homeless Impact Fund at the Central Florida Foundation, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and the LISC-NEF/Northrop Grumman Bring Them Homes Initiative. Construction is set to begin in early 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2019.
Images courtesy of Ability Housing
