ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – As school districts across Central Florida face tightening budgets, a new change to Florida’s Live Local Act gives school districts authority to build affordable housing on district-owned land, even when local zoning wouldn’t normally allow it.
In Orange County, a proposal for 100 apartments on an 8.5-acre parcel near Catalina Elementary is already drawing opposition from residents of the neighboring Isle of Catalina community.
Under Florida law, “affordable” housing generally refers to housing where eligible households spend no more than 30% of their income on rent or mortgage payments, taxes, insurance and utilities. Eligibility is tied to household income compared with the area’s median income, with different income limits applying to different affordable housing programs.
Not every apartment proposed near Catalina Elementary will fall into that category. Some units are expected to be considered “attainable” housing. Attainable housing generally refers to units priced for working households that may earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing programs but still struggle with market-rate housing costs.
That distinction means rents, income requirements and eligibility could vary among apartments within the development.
Catalina Elementary Principal Adriene Anderson sees potential benefits for teachers and students. She told News 6 that affordable and attainable housing near the school could help the district retain educators and, in turn, strengthen academic performance.
“Because when you have teachers that remain at your school, that helps with our student achievement,” Anderson said.
Michael Hart is a reading teacher at Catalina Elementary. He said having housing closer to work would make a major difference.
“I do travel 30, depending on traffic, plus minutes to come over here,” said Hart. “So, the idea of it being cost-affordable and being close sounds absolutely amazing.”
But neighbors in the surrounding Isle of Catalina neighborhood are pushing back. They say an apartment-style development is not what they expected across from their single-family homes. Many residents have raised concerns about increased traffic and environmental impacts on nearby Clear Lake.
Resident Larry Johnson, who built his home across from the school in 1990, said he worries the project could hurt his property value.
“I can see probably $100,000 going off the property value of my home immediately once that happens,” Johnson said. “If I should need to sell, it’s going to be difficult because not very many people want to open their front door and look at an apartment complex,” he added.
In June, more than 50 letters and speakers were submitted during a City of Orlando zoning meeting opposing the proposal.
“If you don’t want this in your neighborhood, please, please, please don’t put it in mine,” one speaker said at the meeting.
Days later, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the latest Live Local Act update, giving school districts broader authority to pursue qualifying housing projects. The act now allows school districts to build affordable housing on district-owned properties regardless of current zoning.
With districts dealing with declining enrollment, budget cuts, and campus closures, News 6 asked other school districts whether they plan to convert district-owned property into affordable housing.
Districts across the region told News 6 they do not have plans at this time, including Seminole, Lake, Osceola, Flagler and Brevard.
Marion County Public Schools said the school board previously discussed the idea with a company out of Texas, but those talks have since paused.
Volusia County Schools said they initiated a project last year in collaboration with Home Brings Hope. A district spokesman said they donated the land and constructed new homes for six Volusia County staff members but did not indicate any plans for future developments.
News 6 also asked Orange County Public Schools whether it has decided what to do with the seven campuses it closed due to declining enrollment.
The district said it has not made a decision, and it has no other affordable housing projects in the works at this time.