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Orlando council backs plan for 140 affordable apartments in Callahan and funding to preserve units
Summary
The Orlando City Council signaled support for a developer recommendation to build 140 affordable apartments in the Callahan neighborhood using Accelerate Orlando funds and approved several preservation grants and rehab projects to keep existing units in service.
Mayor Buddy Dyer and council members on Jan. 13 highlighted a package of affordable-housing actions the city is advancing, including support for developer New Rock Company to build 140 affordable apartments in the Callahan neighborhood and several preservation grants and rehab projects.
The council’s mayoral update noted the Slush Advisory Committee had recommended New Rock Company’s proposal and that the planned apartments would be reserved for households at or below 80% of area median income, with 10% of units dedicated to permanent supportive housing. "B24 is a request to approve the Slush Advisory Committee's recommendation of the New Rock Company's proposal to develop 140 affordable apartment units in the Callahan neighborhood using our Accelerate Orlando funds," Mayor Dyer said.
The mayor also reported the city has issued rebates totalling $782,000 across seven certified affordable developments since the program began. In addition, the city is allocating $772,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to Housing and Neighborhood Development Services (HANDS) to upgrade kitchens in 36 affordable apartment units, and is funding a roof-replacement program run by Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay for 15 homeowners.
Council members praised the mix of preservation and new production. Commissioner Burns said she supported the overall package as part of the council’s housing priorities. Commissioner Stewart and others noted that preserving existing affordable units is as important as building new ones.
The mayor placed the items on the consent agenda for formal council action, and council adopted the consent agenda (which includes funding and contract approvals) during the meeting.
Why it matters: The measures advance both new affordable development and short-term preservation work—kitchen upgrades and roof repairs—that can keep existing affordable units habitable and on the market. The 10% permanent-supportive-housing set-aside explicitly targets people who require long-term supportive services.
What’s next: The New Rock Company proposal and the specific contract and funding approvals were included on the council consent agenda and were acted on in the meeting’s consent vote. Further project-level approvals (site plan, permitting, contract execution) will follow standard staff review and procurement steps.
