March 28, 2024

Non-Profit

High-Rise Habitats

Amy Keller | 5/1/2007

Attempting to maximize the supply of affordable housing, the Sarasota chapter of Habitat for Humanity is shifting away from building single-family homes and focusing instead on higher-density town house and condo projects. "Traditionally, we used to build single-family homes on 50-by-100-foot lots. That was fine before, but with land prices having gone up exponentially, the cost for the home is too high," says Zeb Portanova, director of new community development for Sarasota Habitat for Humanity.


"You can build affordable housing an hour and a half away," says Zeb Portanova, "then you're adding in transportation costs." [Photo: Jeffrey Camp]

At the forefront of the effort is Habitat's "Puppy Park," a planned 215-unit town home development on 16 acres next to the Sarasota Kennel Club. The dog track's owner sold the parcel to Habitat last year for $5.2 million, a purchase financed in part with $4.5 million in tax-exempt bonds issued by the county. With rezoning nearly complete, construction should begin later this year.

While Habitat chapters in major metropolitan cities like New York, Baltimore and San Francisco have built attached housing before, Sarasota's efforts are unprecedented for Florida in terms of the size and scope, and other Florida chapters are already taking notice. The head of Manatee County's Habitat recently met with the Sarasota chapter and plans to "go multifamily" because of high land costs, and the group's Pinellas County chapter has got a town house project in the works.
The Sarasota non-profit is seeking to build several other projects, including:

  • A four-story condo called Cohen Way, which would include 36 condos for low-income families and a total of 72 mixed-
    income units
  • A 127-unit affordable housing project at Payne Park Village
  • From 150 to 200 town homes along Leonard Reid Avenue

All told, the five-year plan will cost Habitat about $50 million.

Side Business

The Sarasota Habitat for Humanity's Home Improvement Outlet collects leftover building materials and "gently used" appliances. The Sarasota store sells building supplies, furniture, plumbing fixtures, appliances, art and lighting fixtures at 80% off the retail price. The store brings in more than half a million dollars each year -- and there's an environmental benefit. The non-profit says it kept 1.2 million pounds of garbage out of the dump.

Tags: Southwest, Housing/Construction

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