Featured image for “Jax native believes affordable housing effort in Northwest will bear fruit”
May 1, 2023

Jax native believes affordable housing effort in Northwest will bear fruit

Fruit of Barren Trees will acquire vacant lots in Northwest Jacksonville and develop them into homes that “bring dignity and quality to this area.”

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Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY: More details on ADUs, please”
November 21, 2022

#AskJAXTDY: More details on ADUs, please

Q. After reading that the Jax City Council had extended the area where local homeowners can build and rent “accessory dwelling units,” which are basically small apartment-type casitas, Jacksonville Today newsletter readers Susan A. and Shanell D. had questions: Susan asks whether ADUs would have separate tax bills on top of the main home’s property tax bill and whether they’ll

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Featured image for “Taking a page from Orlando’s book, Jax advocates call for a housing emergency declaration”
September 26, 2022

Taking a page from Orlando’s book, Jax advocates call for a housing emergency declaration

Jacksonville’s $1.5 billion budget is going to be finalized on Tuesday night. Though it will include funding aimed at helping people achieve homeownership, it does not address rising rents in the way some local activists would like. The Jacksonville Community Action Committee spoke en masse during the budget process, imploring the City Council to consider passing a housing emergency in

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Featured image for “OPINION | Jax’s accessory dwelling unit bill deserves support”
August 16, 2022

OPINION | Jax’s accessory dwelling unit bill deserves support

The Jacksonville City Council is debating the Keep Our Families Together Act, which would allow accessory dwelling units — garage apartments, detached suites, etc. — to be built in more neighborhoods. Here’s why it’s exactly the kind of thing local leaders should be pursuing to help fight the housing crisis. What are ADUs? Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a term

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Featured image for “OPINION | Florida’s secret weapon in the housing crisis”
July 19, 2022

OPINION | Florida’s secret weapon in the housing crisis

With the creation of the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing in 1992, Florida led the way in ensuring that low-income residents had a place to live. But failure to fund the trust over the last 20 years has contributed to Florida’s entering a full-blown housing crisis — still, it just may be our best tool for turning

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Featured image for “OPINION | Kids should be able to live big”
July 18, 2022

OPINION | Kids should be able to live big

I was talking to my son recently about travel, and I suggested that for his next spring break we visit a friend of mine in Texas. After making my pitch, I asked if he wanted to go.  He said, “No. They have mass shootings in Texas.”  In the moment, I registered, Wow he’s really been paying attention when I watch

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Featured image for “EXPLORE: How much did rent go up in your neighborhood?”
May 12, 2022

EXPLORE: How much did rent go up in your neighborhood?

Rent prices  in the Jacksonville metro area have increased by more than 30% since the start of the pandemic — more than twice the rate of inflation. In some neighborhoods, including San Jose and Arlington, rent prices have gone up by close to 40% over the past two years. Today, Jacksonville is the 13th most overpriced rental city in the

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