JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ability Housing on Tuesday opened the ribbon on the Village at Cedar Hills, a $30 million affordable-housing development that will provide 90 apartments for families on the city’s Westside.
The nonprofit developer said the complex, off 103rd Street, includes 36 one-bedroom, 45 two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom units. Rents are tied to household size and income, ranging from about $500 for a one-bedroom for someone making 30% of the area median income (AMI) to $1,380 for a three-bedroom at 60% AMI.
“We do this work not because it’s easy, but it’s so hard and it’s so needed and it’s so impactful,” said Reggie Fullwood, chairman of Ability Housing’s board. “The goal for the work that we do is families and individuals who desperately need the help. They need the housing.”
Mayor Donna Deegan said the opening is a meaningful day for Jacksonville.
“We’ve got to make housing more affordable, keep building solutions that meet people where they are,” Deegan said. “And that is exactly what this community represents, so developments like the village at Cedar Hill show us what progress looks like here in Jacksonville. Homes that are high quality, they’re energy efficient.”
LSF Health Systems has partnered with Ability Housing and will be providing health care to the families in the housing community.
It serves indigent people, the uninsured, under-insured, and people who live with mental health or substance use disorders.
“We’re going to be providing the funding for wraparound services for residents who need our help, that need, for example, medication management, care coordination, therapy, etc. and we couldn’t be more pleased for this pilot project,” Dr. Christine Cauffield, EVP of LSF Health Systems, said.
Deegan and Ability Housing officials noted the need far outstrips supply. The mayor said the city still has more than 50,000 people on waiting lists for affordable housing, and that public-private partnerships have been essential to getting projects built.
Funding for the $30.7 million project was secured through various state, local and private sources. The City of Jacksonville provided a grant of Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds in the amount of $1 million to assist with the development. The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) provided a predevelopment loan of $1.45 million. EverBank financed a $16 million construction loan, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation awarded $7.2 million in HOME-ARP funding and $1,835,100 in NHTF funding. Raymond James syndicated $17,736,026 in tax credit equity for EverBank, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) provided $50,000 for predevelopment work.
“Too many hard-working families are priced out of the market,” Deegan said at the event. “Too many of our neighbors are stretched beyond their means to keep a roof over their heads.”
There are 36 one-bedroom, 45 two-bedroom units, and 9 three-bedroom options at the Village at Cedar Hills.
Ability Housing said move-in day is imminent and that prospective tenants must fill out an online interest form. A representative will contact applicants with details about eligibility and how to apply.
If anyone has any questions or needs assistance, they can contact cedarhills@ndcassetmanagement.com or (904) 437-1661.