One of the city-owned lots on Riverside Drive, north of Sample Road. {Google Maps}
By Bryan Boggiano
Coral Springs’s answer to more affordable housing options might lie within two plots of vacant land.
City officials discussed developing two plots of land north of Sample Road along the west side of Riverside Drive at the May 18 meeting, passing a resolution declaring the vacant land as surplus property. This allows the affordable housing project to continue.
The north plot covers 0.526 acres and has an appraisal value of $409,000. The south plot covers 0.528 acres of land and has an appraisal value of $414,000, according to city documents.
The city purchased the plots in 1995 for $135,500 after Riverside Drive was widened to alleviate any potential parking issues that could result, according to Julie Krolak, director of development services.
No such parking issues occurred.
In 2006, when the city adopted an affordable housing ordinance, officials identified the vacant lots as potential sites for an affordable housing project.
In 2021, the city partnered with Habitat for Humanity for project construction.
The city notes that in 2022, expanding affordable housing options is necessary, given the skyrocketing costs of rent and homes throughout the tri-county area and state.
The resolution itself is part of Phase I of a four-phase project.
The first phase, projected to be complete by Summer 2022, includes funding securement and approval of the site, engineering, and modeling.
Phase II includes permitting, entitlement, infrastructure, the groundbreaking ceremony, and family selection, which will be completed by Summer 2023.
Phase III includes vertical construction, scheduled for a Spring 2023 completion. The remainder of the project, Phase IV, is projected to be complete in the Summer of 2024.
“We’re fully invested in doing what we can as a city to attack the affordable housing crisis,” said Vice Mayor Joshua Simmons.
Commissioner Shawn Cerra moved to approve the resolution, which Commissioner Joy Carter seconded. The commission voted unanimously in favor.
“I look forward to the five of us working on the project together because this is definitely a hands-on commission, and it’s very important to all of us to see this project move forward,” said Mayor Scott Brook.
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