A Miami-based developer chosen to redevelop the now-demolished Griffin Park housing project in Parramore has approached the city of Orlando with plans for a transformative, mixed-income community built around four apartment towers abutting I-4.

The conceptual plan from Property Markets Group for the roughly nine-acre site at 520 Callahan Dr. calls for 1,000 apartments, 725 of which would be affordable, and incorporates a grocery store in the development. The tallest building, on the eastern portion of the land, would be an 18-story tower with 275 market-rate apartments for families. According to a site plan, the other three towers would rise ten stories each, with a total of 565 affordable units for families and 160 affordable units for seniors.

The project as conceived would make a milestone for Orlando and the Parramore neighborhood, trading the disgrace of decrepit public housing for the lure of brand-new, below-market apartments primarily serving the region’s struggling families.

Dan Coakley, a Principal with PMG, chosen by the Orlando Housing Authority to redevelop the site, said that the plans are still preliminary and are subject to change, but that his company is committed to the effort.

“It’s rare to have the opportunity to put so much affordable housing close to the employment centers. Normally, you’re looking at long drives, or sites on the periphery, and unattractive sites in a lot of ways. The fact that this former public housing site is so close to downtown just makes it so attractive, especially given the affordable housing crisis that most people agree is at crisis level in Orlando,” Coakley said.

The towers will likely include a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments. Each building could have its own amenities such as a clubhouse, a gym, lounge space, and a pool, but those details aren’t yet finalized.

A 2023 report from Apartment List found that Florida had the highest percentage of cost-burdened renters of any state in the country, as defined by the percentage of renters spending more than 30% of their monthly income on rent. About 60% of renters in Florida and the Orlando area were cost-burdened, compared to the national average of 52%, due to the relatively modest average income of renters in the state. Notably, the Orlando market had a higher share of cost-burdened renters than markets such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.

In keeping with the city’s vision to promote a mixed-use development on the property, the developer proposes to include a 15,000-square-foot grocery store on the ground floor of one of the buildings. There would also be 15,000 square feet of retail space and a 15,000-square-foot community center in a pair of original buildings that the city preserved.

“Those existing buildings are being kept as historical markers for the community that was there before. Part of what we will do in the community center will be a celebration of the history of Griffin Park as a public housing project, and also the surrounding Paramore community, with a real focus on the strong African American history in this community,” Coakley explained.

In 2023, the Orlando Housing Authority selected Property Markets Group to redevelop the aging Griffin Park community, which was demolished last September and had been unoccupied since 2022. Former residents of the 171-unit complex, which was built in 1940, consistently raised concerns in recent years over noise, air pollution, rats, bug infestations, mold, and rust. Before the community was demolished, OHA Director Vivian Bryant called it “structurally obsolete”.

Coakley said that former residents of Griffin Park will be given “the first right to return” once the new community delivers its first affordable phase. The developer is also taking steps to limit noise from I-4 and 408, which are immediately adjacent to the property.

“I think we’ve really tried to take into consideration community feedback and master plan this site, away from the highways and to try to give as much space from that as possible,” Coakley said. “We certainly will program the site with vegetation and other measures to further mitigate noise to make sure that it’s a wonderful community to live in.”

John Crossman, a local real estate expert with Crossmarc Services who also serves on OHA’s Board of Commissioners, said that he’s excited to see Parramore grow and develop. Another project, the $500 million Westcourt sports and entertainment district across from the Kia Center, is also contributing to the growth of the neighborhood.

“In my lifetime, I’ve seen a lot of wonderful things happen in Parramore, and that’s thanks to a lot of outstanding leadership,” he said, while praising the redevelopment of Griffin Park. “We need more affordable housing in our community, and it’s an outstanding location.”

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