NSB approves donating 3 properties to Habitat for Humanity affordable housing

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — The New Smyrna Beach City Commission last week approved donating three city-owned properties to be developed for affordable housing.

The commission considered four applications and made the donations to Habitat for Humanity — a global nonprofit housing organization.

“We have a huge need, and it is becoming ever more challenging to find individuals that can afford housing given the constraints,” Mark Billings, executive director for Habitat for Humanity, told city commissioners.

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Every three years, Florida Statute 166.0451 requires municipalities to identify city-owned properties that are appropriate for use as affordable housing and put them up for sale or donation.

After almost a year of analyzing which properties would be best suited for this use, commissioners in May identified and approved four properties to be listed for donation. These empty-lot properties are located at 2524 Nordman Ave., 2519 Auburn Ave., 708 Francis Ave., and 349 Palm St.

The four properties were then listed on the city's website and the city received applications from Habitat for Humanity and the New Smyrna Beach Housing Authority.

Billings told commissioners that it didn’t matter which organization was awarded the properties.

“The only wrong decision is not to make a decision for these to go to help affordable housing,” he said.

The nonprofit proposed single-family home projects, while the city Housing Authority proposed duplexes, which would not be allowed in the R-2 zoning district where they are located. Teresa Pope, executive director for the Housing Authority, did say that there would be no problem changing the proposed homes to single-family.

City Commissioner Michael Kolody said that the Housing Authority “should not look upon this as a rejection of their performance” after commissioners voted to donate the properties to Habitat for Humanity.

“It will certainly move quicker, because it is a private entity,” he said.

Kolody also mentioned that the city Housing Authority is devoting much of its attention to the ongoing Greenlawn Manor, a $23 million senior affordable housing project. It consists of a three-story building with 80 individual living units.

“Affordable housing has certainly always been an issue in this town, as well as many others,” Kolody said.

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Helping city’s finances and workforce

Billings added that the projects would benefit the city’s finances (as the properties will be sold and returned to the tax rolls) and those in the community who most struggle with housing prices.

“Affordable housing — for those individuals that are deserving and can afford it, such as our police officers, teachers, firefighters, first responders, exactly those individuals that are deserving a hand up — breaks the cycle of poverty,” Billings said. “This is an opportunity for us to take the cost out and make it more affordable.”

City Commissioner Randy Hartman said that affordable housing has been "a passion" of his for several years.

“I can’t tell you how many times I have heard ‘I wish my son could find a place to live here,’ but there’s no affordable housing,” Hartman said. “The only way that you really are going to make these homes affordable is by reducing some of the costs — either the permitting fees (waivers) or land donations. I think we need to move forward.”

Pope echoed Billings’ view that the properties would be in good hands with either organization and highlighted the current need facing the community.

“It’s our servers, our cooks, our housekeepers, our housekeeping staff, our bus drivers, our grocery and department store workers, our trash collectors, our teachers — the ones who serve us and our families,” Pope said. “If they no longer exist, who is going to serve us?”

The average income of those currently being assisted by the housing authority is $24,817.

“The annual household income needed to afford a two-bedroom rental, at fair market rent, is $51,619. The average household size is 2.8 people. Over 70% of (residents being served by the Housing Authority) are working families, and the others are seniors and disabled residents who make less than $1,000 a month. A two-bedroom apartment in New Smyrna Beach is over $1,200 a month,” Pope said. “This doesn’t add up.”

Francis Ave. property denied after neighbors push back

Although commissioners showed support for the initiative and for affordable housing in the city in general, they did not approve donating the property located at 708 Francis Ave.

The property is an empty lot of green space with a tree canopy where nearby residents enjoy spending time. The adjoining property at 706 Francis Ave. is also undeveloped and was considered for donation before the City Commission decided on the other four properties.

Francis Avenue resident Kelsey Hansen-Walter, who lives across the street from the lots, told commissioners that she and her husband were opposed to the lots’ donation, citing sections of the city charter that require the city’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

“The neighborhood needs the two lots to remain green spaces, which has been promised by you to remain so,” Hansen-Walter said. “This, among many other reasons, is why we urge you not to donate the (Francis Avenue) lots for development and consider rezoning them from residential to actual parks and green spaces.”

Francis Avenue resident Michael Shannon mentioned that residents maintain the lots and encouraged commissioners to officially make them a public park area.

City Commissioner Jake Sachs agreed with the residents who wanted the area to remain a green space.

“A lot of people know how I value parks,” Sachs said. “I support, of course, affordable housing, but if my colleagues and the organizations, Habitat and the Housing Authority, would be willing to forgo that property and leave that as a passive park, it would also be a tremendous asset.”

He said that he is willing to look at more opportunities for affordable housing projects in the future.

“Green space is something that’s diminishing in our city, and I am trying to hold on to that dearly,” Sachs added

New Smyrna Beach Vice Mayor Jason McGuirk reiterated that he would not support donating the Francis Avenue property “at this time or likely in the future” after hearing from residents.

“At this point, I’m not comfortable with moving forward with the (708 Francis Ave.) location,” he said. “Nine residents have come out and expressed concern, and I haven’t had anyone else come up on any of the (other) properties.”

After voting to reject that property’s donation, commissioners directed city staff to meet with area residents to discuss what would be the best course of action for 708 Francis Ave.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: New Smyrna Beach donates 3 properties for affordable housing project