PINE HILLS, Fla.,None — Orange County leaders are hoping a $22 million housing project can help revitalize the Pine Hills area.
On Thursday, officials began tearing down parts of the old Seville Place apartments on Pine Hills Road.
WFTV's Tim Barber found out why county leaders chose this particular complex to redevelop.
Orange County is transforming them into the multi-million dollar Emerald Villas, complete with a pool, tennis courts and a fitness center.
Pine Hills resident Orika Frazier lives down the street. She said the renderings are a far cry from the crime-infested place the complex used to be.
"It will make it better, I think it will stop crime. I think the crime will slow down a lot better," Frazier said.
The 264-unit housing project will have a gate, better lighting and a fence running around the entire property.
Orange County is contributing $8.6 million of the $22 million total projected cost. The rest will come from bonds and funding from various agencies and institutions.
One of the reasons the county wanted to tear apart the apartment complex is because it's right across the street from the new Evans High School.
County leaders said the new development will compliment this multi-million dollar school which just jumped from a "D" to a "C"-rated school.
"Half of the apartments are reserved for low-income families," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said. "For example, a family of four would have to make less than $30,000 per year. But the rest would be open to everyone."
"I think it's changing the community, making a better place to live. I think it will be great," Frazier said.
The county will start taking applications to live at Emerald Villas as soon as the apartments start opening.
The revitalization project is expected to wrap up this December.
WFTV
