Featured image for “At dawn of huge stadium deal, Jax commission sees ‘pattern’ of lax contract oversight”
TRUE Commission Chair Keshan Chambliss, left, listens as Commissioner Daniel Henry speaks on his concerns about procurement-contract training at a meeting of the commission on April 4, 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
April 10, 2024

At dawn of huge stadium deal, Jax commission sees ‘pattern’ of lax contract oversight

Commissioners want to know how to help the city tackle what they view as repeated shortcomings in enforcing contracts.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville pledges $10M for affordable housing”
The Lofts at Cathedral in Downtown Jacksonville are an affordable housing development using Sadowski trust funds.
April 10, 2024

Jacksonville pledges $10M for affordable housing

The city says the money would jump-start a loan fund for developers that could lead to more than 1,000 new…

Featured image for “Jacksonville panel seeks more multifamily housing”
Jacksonville zoning laws limit the construction of duplexes and fourplexes. | Jacksonville Daily Record
April 2, 2024

Jacksonville panel seeks more multifamily housing

A City Council committee took a preliminary step Monday toward identifying areas that are suitable for higher-density housing.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Affordable housing in Northern St. Johns faces familiar opposition”
A rendering of the proposed Preserve at Wards Creek | St. Johns Planning and Zoning Agency
March 18, 2024

OPINION | Affordable housing in Northern St. Johns faces familiar opposition

This affordable housing project is being used as a scapegoat for the previous sins in St. Johns County. …

Featured image for “Amid turmoil, Jax Housing Authority making moves”
Jacksonville Housing Authority Commissioner Andrea Reyes is see as chair of the transition committee that will oversee the search for a new CEO for the agency. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
February 19, 2024

Amid turmoil, Jax Housing Authority making moves

Before three high-profile departures, the agency’s former board chair decried “lack of direction” and “clarity about responsibilities.” …

Featured image for “Nonprofit recognized for sustainable housing efforts”
Reggie Fullwood of Ability Housing's board of directors, left, accepts the Bill Soforenko Affordable Housing Award from Northeast Florida Builders Association Board member Zach Scott with Ameris Bank. | Ability Housing
February 12, 2024

Nonprofit recognized for sustainable housing efforts

The Northeast Florida Builders Association recognized Ability Housing for its sustainable housing efforts.…

Featured image for “More affordable housing planned in St. Johns County”
The Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County wants to build more housing on its campus in St. Augustine. l Google
February 5, 2024

More affordable housing planned in St. Johns County

The Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County hopes to use $247,000 in state money toward building 16 affordable duplexes.…

Featured image for “Housing Authority CEO abruptly resigns, saying he feels forced out”
Dwayne Alexander resigned as president and CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 30, 2024

Housing Authority CEO abruptly resigns, saying he feels forced out

President and CEO Dwayne Alexander was the third major departure from the agency in recent weeks.…

Featured image for “Affordable rental homes called critical in West Augustine”
This space will become home to Villages of New Augustine, an affordable housing development in St. Johns County. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 8, 2024

Affordable rental homes called critical in West Augustine

A 92-unit apartment complex offering affordable rents will start construction Wednesday in West Augustine.…

Featured image for “Despite murky data on housing waitlist, need has clearly grown”
Dwayne Alexander stands outside the entrance to the Jacksonville Housing Authority, where he serves as president and CEO. | Jacksonville Today, Casmira Harrison
December 21, 2023

Despite murky data on housing waitlist, need has clearly grown

The number of people waiting for housing through the Jacksonville Housing Authority has been exaggerated. But the need has grown…

Featured image for “Housing Authority CEO gets $25,000 bonus; investigation still pending”
Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO Dwayne Alexander speaks at a board meeting Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
December 18, 2023

Housing Authority CEO gets $25,000 bonus; investigation still pending

An investigation into the Jacksonville Housing Authority won’t become public for a while longer, but the agency is extending the…

Featured image for “Affordable housing isn’t as simple as it sounds. Let us explain.”
A sign on the Jacksonville Housing Authority administration building shows the agency is no longer accepting applications for public housing. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
December 15, 2023

Affordable housing isn’t as simple as it sounds. Let us explain.

The terms “affordable” and “workforce” housing come down to how much money a family makes compared with the median income…

Featured image for “OPINION | Next steps in city’s affordable housing efforts?”
November 29, 2023

OPINION | Next steps in city’s affordable housing efforts?

In Duval County, the property appraiser estimates that 25% of all single-family homes are owned by investors.…

Featured image for “Nonprofit developer buys affordable housing in Arlington”
Ability Housing has bought Riverton Tower Senior Center in Arlington. | Ability Housing
October 27, 2023

Nonprofit developer buys affordable housing in Arlington

Ability Housing bought Riverton Tower Senior Center for $500,000. The building includes 120 units of affordable rental housing for people…

Featured image for “More affordable housing opens in St. Augustine”
Victoria Crossing Apartments in St. Augustine l Steven Ponson
October 25, 2023

More affordable housing opens in St. Augustine

Victoria Crossing is the latest attempt to deal with a critical shortage of affordable housing in Northeast Florida’s most expensive…

Featured image for “More Jacksonville tenants are signing out-of-reach leases, case workers say”
October 17, 2023

More Jacksonville tenants are signing out-of-reach leases, case workers say

Local rental-aid and social service  organizations are seeing worrying trends as the number of eviction notices climbs in the Duval…

Featured image for “OPINION | City needs bold action to solve affordable housing crisis”
October 16, 2023

OPINION | City needs bold action to solve affordable housing crisis

About 147,000 Jacksonville households are on a wait list for affordable housing. That would fill EverBank Stadium twice.…

Featured image for “To keep affordable housing affordable, a public-private partnership for Jax?”
The Lofts at Cathedral in Downtown Jacksonville are an affordable housing development using Sadowski trust funds.
October 9, 2023

To keep affordable housing affordable, a public-private partnership for Jax?

A proposed mix of public and private money to leverage tax credits could yield $160M to build affordable housing.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Jacksonville should act to reverse the legacy of racist housing policies”
September 20, 2023

OPINION | Jacksonville should act to reverse the legacy of racist housing policies

The U.S. government created ghettoes.  Government action produced racially segregated communities in the U.S., including in Jacksonville. This was no…

Featured image for “Three South Jacksonville hotels being transformed into apartments”
September 20, 2023

Three South Jacksonville hotels being transformed into apartments

Two troubled hotels off Baymeadows Road and one near University and Bowden are being turned into apartments averaging $1,000 to…

Featured image for “OPINION | What St. Johns County teaches us about affordable housing”
September 11, 2023

OPINION | What St. Johns County teaches us about affordable housing

Even with proven, successful ways to provide affordable housing, funding at the state and local levels is not nearly strong…

Featured image for “Homelessness panel lays a plan — and looks for ways to fund it”
Mayor Donna Deegan speaks to Cindy Funkhouser, CEO of Sulzbacher, at a town hall. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
August 17, 2023

Homelessness panel lays a plan — and looks for ways to fund it

Jacksonville’s homelessness subcommittee must make recommendations to Mayor Donna Deegan by Sept. 5.…

Featured image for “Mayor’s plan on affordable housing inches forward”
Irvin Cohen discusses the need for preserving homeownership during an affordable housing committee meeting Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, at the Ed Ball Building in Jacksonville. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today)
August 9, 2023

Mayor’s plan on affordable housing inches forward

A committee looking to solve Jacksonville’s affordable housing issue is developing a wide-ranging list of ideas.…

Featured image for “On housing, homelessness and health care, Jax committee passes learnings to new Council ”
July 25, 2023

On housing, homelessness and health care, Jax committee passes learnings to new Council 

Jacksonville’s Critical Quality of Life Committee has presented its final report to guide policy for helping low-income people.…