Demolition is underway at Griffin Park, the Orlando Housing Authority’s first and oldest housing community, marking the first step of plans to revitalize the historic community.

Plans are to transform it into new mixed-income housing tucked further away from the noise and pollution of Interstate 4.

Opened in 1941, Griffin Park has 23 buildings and sits on nine acres nestled between I-4 and the East-West Expressway. The community has been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places since 1996.

As part of the project, two buildings — one of which includes the management office for the community — will be preserved for historic purposes.

Orlando Housing Authority CEO Vivian Bryant, who gathered with others at the site Thursday for the demolition, said there’s no timeline yet for building new housing and that it’s contingent upon community input.

“In terms of rebuilding, we’ll work with the community, city and history museum to come up with a plan for what the new structures will look like and what the design will be,” she said. “Then we’ll go after financing to build.”

Financing could take up to two years to obtain and Bryant said OHA also plans to bring mixed-use elements to the community in the form of small businesses.

“We want to do that so that residents won’t have to go to Walmart to get a loaf of bread,” she said. “We want it to be a walkable community where there are enough services and amenities for residents so that they can feel good about living here and have better opportunities for their children.”

The Housing Authority was able to start demolition because the work is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Griffin Park has long been the subject of complaints about rats and air quality concerns, among other issues. The community has sat vacant since 2022 because of issues with noise and air pollution due to the interstate.

Bryant said the age of the buildings has led to problems too large for individual residents to fix. She said the community has needed an upgrade for years.

“The property is structurally obsolete, there’s not enough parking and the bedrooms are upstairs, so someone that has mobility issues can’t really live here,” she said. “We had to retrofit the apartments to put washers and dryers in because they’re now serving a population who works. It just doesn’t meet today’s standards.”

Former resident Carmen Colon shared stories Thursday of her fondest memories of living in the neighborhood — about community block parties behind the management office and the safety she felt with her neighbors.

Colon, who has relocated, said she’s happy her old community is getting restored and hopes to move back to Griffin Park once the new housing is constructed.

“I’m excited to see it brand new because, at the end of the day, there’s going to be new buildings and new amenities,” she said. “I’m excited to see it when it’s finished and, if God gives me the opportunity, I will come and live here again.”