Victoria Crossing Apartments in St. Augustine l Steven Ponson
Published on October 25, 2023 at 4:22 pm
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A new affordable housing complex is now housing residents in St. Augustine, the latest to open in Northeast Florida’s most expensive county.
St. Johns County officials, business owners and others came together Wednesday to celebrate the new housing complex on State Road 207 near Interstate 95, near grocery stores, pharmacies and schools.
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Many talked about the county’s critical shortage of affordable housing. According to the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, the median price to buy a single-family residence in the county was more than $536,000 in September, the highest in Northeast Florida. The next highest was Nassau County, with a median price of $395,000.
In contrast, rents for the remaining units at Victoria Crossing range from $873 for a one-bedroom unit to $1,038 for two bedrooms and $1,180 for three bedrooms — lower than the average rent in St. Augustine. According to Rent.com the city’s average rent is $1,477 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,629 for two bedrooms.
Victoria Crossing has already proven popular. Fewer than 20 of 96 units are still available.
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For Rose Brown, who has lived in St. Augustine all her life, having an affordable place to live is a blessing. She said that before she lived at the complex her budget was a bit tighter, but now she doesn’t have to worry about money as much.
“The cost of living right now is very expensive, and I really do count it a blessing. Moved in a brand new place, and, you know, it’s a beautiful place,” Brown said.
Brown said she plans to stay at the complex awhile and hopes one day to own her own home.
More than 200 new affordable housing units have become available in St. Johns County with the opening of Victoria Crossing and the 132 units at the San Marco Heights apartments, according to County Commissioner Roy Alaimo.
“This project is more than just bricks and mortar to build housing opportunities. Victoria Crossing is about building a better quality of life for those in need of a safe, affordable and reliable place to call home,” Alaimo said.
Alaimo said more affordable housing projects are coming to the county, but he did not have a specific timeline for when those projects would be completed.
If you want to apply at Victoria Crossing, you can apply in person at 75 Stephanie Lane or you can get an application by email by requesting one at Victoriacrossing@Royalamerican.com.
