The Sarasota County Commission has awarded $27 million to four affordable housing projects across Sarasota, Venice, and North Port, as part of an effort to dispense the Resilient SRQ federal hurricane recovery funds.
Of the $210 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded to Sarasota County for the 2024 hurricanes, $30 million was earmarked for “new multifamily affordable housing,” as part of a $63 million housing program.
County staff scored each application from 0 to 100 based on criteria such as project readiness, project impact, the financial plan, and the extent to which the proposal ties back to the 2024 storms.
There were fifteen applications from housing developers. The four highest-scoring projects – Sarasota Housing Authority’s McCown Tower developments (93.33 and 92.67), Vital at Gateway Court in Englewood (90.3), and Reflections at Venice Isles (86.33) – did not receive any funding.
$15 million to the Rosedale in North Port
The $42 million project from Community Assisted and Supported Living and Blue Sky Communities calls for 106 units – all of them earmarked for families making 60% or less of the area median income. Plans call for three “garden-style buildings” (low-rise dwellings with landscaped exteriors) on 10 acres.
The development will be at 1201 Toledo Blade Blvd, just south of W Price Boulevard and The Shoppes at Price Crossing. Developers expect its completion in July 2028.
The project scored a 76 from county staff.
$11.2 million to Venice Avenue Apartments in Venice
The four buildings and clubhouse would be on 7.5 acres at 206 S Clermont Rd., down the street west from the Jacaranda Commons Shopping Center. 51% of the 135 units will be “affordable.”
The project is a collaboration between One Stop Cares Inc, a local nonprofit, and One Stop Housing LLC, a private developer.
The project scored a 75 from county staff and will cost a total of nearly $29 million.
$2.5 million to Lakeview Village in Sarasota
The project from Harvest House and One Stop Housing called for 25 affordable units in five, two-story buildings adjacent to Emma E. Booker Elementary School.
“The project will help attract and retain qualified educators who currently face long commutes from North Port, Riverview, or Gibsonton by offering attainable quality housing near their workplaces,” according to its county application.
The Resilient SRQ funds covered 44% of the project; it also received $1 million from the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation.
County staff gave the project a score of 84.33.
$2 million to Parkside Village in Venice
The building would have 10, 2-bedroom units across five duplexes and is slated for completion in July 2027. The building will go up at 430 Substation Rd., near Legacy Park.
The $2 million from Sarasota County will cover less than half of the $4.6 million budget and will make up for funds previously given and then rescinded by the City of Sarasota’s Office of Housing and Community Development.
The project scored a 69 from county staff.
Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@usatodayco.com or christiancasale@protonmail.com
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County helps to fund four affordable housing projects
Reporting by Christian Casale, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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