Mayor Donna Deegan speaks at the opening of affordable homes in the Durkeeville community, She was joined by Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO Cheron Corbett, left, and City Council member Jimmy Peluso. | City of Jacksonville
Published on October 6, 2025 at 12:58 pm
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Five new pastel-colored houses in historic Durkeeville will soon become someone’s homes.
Mayor Donna Deegan and others officially opened the homes Monday, only four months after breaking ground.
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The homes represent one step toward solving possibly the city’s most pressing problem: the shortage of affordable housing.
Deegan said it is time that new, affordable housing be built in a historic neighborhood that has been disinvested for so long.
“You know the cities that are the most successful at tackling this issue are the ones that have invested local dollars,” Deegan said. “We’ll continue to try to work with the council to get those dollars into the budget. We’re going to stay at it because it’s really important.”
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The city’s Housing Division provided $1 million to build the homes: two on Hart Street and three the next block over on Grothe Street.
Housing Authority CEO Cheron Corbett joined City Council member Jimmy Peluso at the ribbon cutting Monday.
Durkeeville’s new Daisy Homes
The cottage-style homes just off Myrtle Avenue North are collectively called Daisy Homes. Just over 1,000 square feet each, the energy-efficient homes have shaded front porches, plus three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The monthly rent is $1,332 each.
According to Deegan, more than 6,000 public housing units have been built or are in process since she took office. But she also said 24,000 people were on a waitlist for affordable housing as of June.
Those interested in public housing must apply. Applications are limited to low-income families and individuals. The Housing Authority determines eligibility based on annual gross income, plus whether someone qualifies as elderly or disabled and meets other requirements.
More information is available here.
Corrected: This story was corrected to say the city of Jacksonville’s Housing Division funded the homes, not the Jacksonville Housing Authority.
