ORLANDO, Fla. – A former eyesore on Colonial Drive is now a symbol of hope and progress in Orlando’s fight against the housing crisis.
Mayor Buddy Dyer and other city leaders gathered Tuesday morning to celebrate the completion of Palm Gardens Orlando, a 150-unit affordable housing complex created through the transformation of the old Ambassador Hotel.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks a major milestone in the city’s $58 million Accelerate Orlando initiative — a federally funded plan aimed at expanding housing and homelessness support across the city.
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“So this is really a feel-good day,” said Dyer. “This is a public-private partnership that converted a crime-ridden motel into 150 affordable units that are being made available to teachers, custodians — people who work in our schools.”
Located just west of downtown, the newly renovated property includes mostly income-restricted units reserved for residents earning 80% or less of the area median income. Fifteen of the units are designated as permanent supportive housing, offering stable accommodations for those facing chronic homelessness or other long-term challenges.
The City of Orlando partnered with One Stop Housing and several community organizations to bring the project to life, turning what was once a blighted structure into safe, long-term housing.
The first phase was completed last year.
Palm Gardens is one of the first projects completed under Accelerate Orlando, a comprehensive initiative that leverages federal funds to address the city’s housing shortage, promote equity, and support vulnerable populations.
Applications for residency are being accepted online at onestophousing.com.