One of the worst apartment complexes in Orlando, Fla., has been replaced by a beautiful new 200-unit mixed-income community that will be the cornerstone in the redevelopment of the city’s West Lakes community.
The new Pendana at West Lakes sits on the site of the former Washington Shores apartments, which were built in the 1960s and at the time were among the only apartments with air conditioning available to African-Americans in the area. Over the years, the apartments fell into disrepair and foreclosure.
Nonprofit LIFT Orlando purchased the property from the city and partnered with Columbia Residential to redevelop the site and transform the neighborhood.
Pendana at West Lakes, which is targeted to families, is the first phase of a Purpose Built Communities initiative undertaken by LIFT Orlando in this community. The partnership is also developing the 120-unit, all-affordable senior housing community adjacent to Pendana.
The substantial housing investment fits into LIFT Orlando’s comprehensive plan that provides access to exceptional educational, employment, health-care, and recreational opportunities for residents. Other elements under construction or breaking ground in the next 12 months include an early-childhood educational facility, a Boys & Girls Club, and a community health and wellness center, immediately adjacent to the Pendana site.
“The residents in the community who participated in design charettes and regular update meetings are excited with the final result,” says Eddy Moratin, LIFT Orlando president. “There is an important sense of pride in the history of West Lakes and the investment in beautiful affordable and mixed-income housing built into that while positively changing the landscape.”
Many residents at Pendana had lived in the distressed apartments before they were torn down.
The new community includes 10 units targeted to families earning up to 40% of the area median income (AMI) and 10 units targeted to the homeless population with accompanying project-based vouchers. An additional 140 units are rented at or below 60% of the AMI and 40 units are rented at market rents.
“Pendana was designed to meet the huge need for affordable housing and the community aspiration for economic diversity,” says Jim Grauley, president and COO of Columbia Residential.
The $36.4 million development was supported by public, private, and philanthropic financing.
