Board approves elevation of county housing program to division as staff outline hotel conversions and rolling application

Alachua County commissioners approved staff recommendations to reclassify housing positions and elevate the county’s housing program to a Housing Division, a change staff said is intended to consolidate resources and better manage an expanding slate of affordable‑housing and infrastructure projects.

Staff introduced new members of the housing team, including Ralston Riadika and Kevin Lynn, and said the county has active projects and recent acquisitions. “We did acquire the Budget Inn and the Scottish Inn,” a housing presenter said, and staff described the architectural and engineering steps that remain before the projects can move to construction. Staff indicated the Scottish Inn project may advance more quickly because it is funded through HOME‑ARP and requires fewer repetitive state sign‑offs than the Budget Inn, which uses CDBG funding.

Commissioners discussed a rolling application process for the infrastructure surtax program and possible coordination with the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and the Housing Finance Authority. Staff said the rolling application will be available for nonprofit and developer submissions and will be brought back for board consideration. The board also discussed the use of the planned infrastructure surtax and general‑fund match as components in capital stacks to leverage state and federal funding.

Commissioner Pizzia moved staff’s recommendation to approve the housing program restructuring and position reclassifications; the motion was seconded and adopted by the board after the public‑comment and deliberation period.

Staff said they will provide follow‑up briefings on the rolling application schedule, detailed project timelines and proposed criteria for prioritized investments, and that they plan to propose a community land trust as one option for preserving long‑term affordability.