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Developer seeks county support as city threatens to rescind ARPA funds for 51‑unit senior housing
Summary
A developer told commissioners his 51‑unit senior housing project faces a $2.9–3.1M financing gap and said the city may rescind about $1.7–1.8M in ARPA funds; the board voted to explore Florida Housing Finance Corporation applications, infrastructure‑surtax commitments and to send a chair letter asking the city to delay pulling its funding.
Joe Eddy, president of JE Properties, urged the Alachua County commission to help salvage a proposed 51‑unit senior housing project after he said the city told him it may rescind about $1.7–1.8 million in ARPA funds.
At a public comment period during the July 9 discussion meeting, Eddy said his team purchased the Oakview/Horizon Sunset Apartments property and plans a 51‑unit senior building on an adjacent vacant parcel. He estimated total project cost at about $17 million and said the development faces a financing gap of roughly $2.9–3.1 million. "If they rescind our ARPA funds on Thursday, the project is at that point. I mean, we're dead," he told commissioners.
Commissioners responded by discussing possible county interventions: a chair letter asking the city to hold off on rescinding ARPA funding while the county explores local match options, pursuing a Florida Housing Finance Corporation application, and examining commitments from the infrastructure surtax for affordable housing. County staff said ARPA funds the city offered must be expended by September 2025, creating urgency for projects that can be completed in time.
Commissioner Prissy moved that staff explore infrastructure surtax opportunities and support the developer in a Florida Housing Finance Corporation application with a local match, and that the chair send a letter to the city before the city's Thursday meeting asking it to delay rescinding the funding. The motion also asked staff to assess whether the county could provide a local match through the housing finance corporation application or by using infrastructure surtax dollars to buy or ready the land. Commissioners seconded the motion and voted to approve it.
Staff and commissioners discussed potential county approaches: committing a local match through a Florida Housing Finance Corporation application (which staff described as competitive and not guaranteed), using infrastructure surtax dollars to buy land or fund infrastructure improvements, and coordinating timelines so the city can see county action. A staff representative noted Florida Housing applications are competitive and, while Alachua County will be eligible to apply, awards are not automatic.
The board approved the action and asked staff to follow up with the developer and present options to keep the project viable, and to transmit a letter to the city indicating the county's intent to explore available funding and to request the city delay rescission pending that work.
No final county funding commitment was made at the meeting.
