WINTER SPRINGS, Fla.,None — Some homeowners in Winter Springs are banding together to fight a new affordable housing development Monday. A developer wants to build nearly 100 units along the city's busiest road, SR-434 and some citizens may even sue to stop it.
The Town Parke Apartments look like a development many cities would welcome, but 28-year Winter Springs resident Isabelle Laub is among a growing crowd fighting the big investment.
"I don't like it. I don't think we need it," Laub said.
Nearly all of the development's 94 phase one units would be available only to low and extremely low income renters, in a city better known as one of Central Florida's upscale suburbs.
"I think it would bring down the housing values, and I think we'd have problems here that we don't have now," Laub said.
The construction timeline is making residents concerns even more pressing. The developer confirmed to WFTV Monday, it's planning to break ground on the land by late September.
Once Town Parke is finished, it could house some 900 new residents. The developer, Atlantic Housing Partners, said it's simply meeting a need for affordable housing in that part of Seminole County.
The company said it runs other similar, attractive, successful apartment complexes on Millenia Boulevard in Orlando.
The most active opponents are even considering suing the city if the plans get a final go-ahead, claiming affordable housing is not the highest and best use for the land.
The city of Winter Springs still has to approve the developer's final construction plans before crews break ground.
Residents are planning to speak out about the issue at a city commission meeting Monday.
WFTV
