Orange County school leaders tout housing partnerships that reserve units for district employees

Orange County Public Schools on June 10 received an update on a multi‑partner effort to expand attainable workforce housing and said several privately developed apartment projects already include or are being planned with priority access for school employees.

The presentation matters because district leaders say housing costs are a major barrier for some employees and the partnerships — involving private developers, local government and nonprofit partners — are intended to provide lower‑cost rental and supportive housing options tied to the county’s employment base.

Dr. Bridget Williams, the district official leading the initiative, told the school board that the district and its Workforce Advisory Board toured a range of mixed‑use and multifamily models from downtown Orlando to Apopka and Sanford. She named Wendover (Wendover Housing Partners) and 1 Stop Housing as partners who led site tours and credited Victoria Sippelen and developer Mark Bancroft for helping convert a former hotel into marketable units in downtown Orlando. “Working together with community leaders and stakeholders on this initiative has and will continue to make a significant impact,” Williams said.

Williams said the district has signed agreements that will provide priority access consideration to OCPS employees at a set of privately owned apartment complexes across the county. She highlighted Palm Gardens (the converted Ambassador Hotel) — a 150‑unit property near Colonial Drive — where Mayor Buddy Dyer and community partners cut a ribbon May 28 and where many units are reserved for people earning 80% or less of area median income; 15 units were described as dedicated to permanent supportive housing. She also described Catchlight Crossing, a Windover/Wendover Housing Partners development in partnership with Universal Studios that Williams said will include about 1,000 units, a tuition‑free preschool, health care offices, rental retail, paths and a community garden, with Phase 1 planned to open in 2026.

Williams said the district is also exploring use of OCPS‑owned property — she identified the former Catalina Elementary School as 1 potential site — and that district legal counsel (John Pomerini) and staff are evaluating options for build‑to‑own or public‑private development. Williams asked the board and public to see the effort as ongoing: “This is just the beginning,” she said.

Board members praised the coalition of city officials, nonprofit developers and private partners. Two current OCPS employees who will move into Palm Gardens — Carla Jones (maintenance department) and Tangela Smith (Food and Nutrition Services) — were invited forward and given $500 gift cards from the school foundation to help with moving expenses.

The board discussion produced no new formal vote recorded in the meeting transcript; Williams said the board has previously approved agreements that set aside priority access consideration at private complexes, and she asked staff to continue evaluating district properties and to negotiate with community partners.

If implemented as described, officials said the projects would add mixed‑income rental supply close to major employment centers and near several schools; Williams and several board members said the work aims to reduce commuting burdens and help with retention of staff who cannot afford local housing.

Looking ahead, Williams said staff will continue negotiations with private developers and city partners, examine legal options for using district land, and pursue set‑aside agreements for future complexes. She asked the board for continued support as the initiative moves to site‑specific design and financing work.