A groundbreaking ceremony held on April 14 was a chance to celebrate the progress Orange County is making in tackling the affordable housing crisis.<\/p>\n
Mayor Jerry L. Demings and District 6 Commissioner Michael Scott joined community members to officially kick off construction on the Enclave at Canopy Park\u2014a new 104-unit apartment community coming to the Holden Heights neighborhood. The project is being developed by Archway Partners, and according to the company\u2019s President, it wouldn\u2019t be happening without support from Orange County\u2019s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.<\/p>\n
Since launching in 2020, the Trust Fund, part of the County\u2019s Housing For All Initiative, has committed $55 million to 12 local housing projects, helping bring nearly 1,900 affordable units to life across the county. Archway Partners, based in Miami, received $3 million from the fund in 2024 to help make the Enclave at Canopy Park a reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project is a direct result of the vision for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund,\u201d said Brett Green, the President of Archway Partners and a graduate of UCF. \u201cWe have tried many times, for many years to get this project financed. The $3 million from the Affordable Housing Trust fund made this project a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Demings emphasized that affordable housing remains one of the county\u2019s top priorities.<\/p>\n
The Board of County Commissioners committed $160 million into the Trust Fund for its first ten years. In November, local voters approved a charter amendment to keep the housing trust fund going for good.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I came in seven years ago as Mayor, we had 110,000 households that were identified as being chronically rent-stressed, meaning they were paying more than 30 percent of their income towards housing payments,\u201d Demings said.\u00a0 \u201cOf course that has worsened over time, we have lived through a pandemic and some other downturns, and here we are today still continuing to move the needle within our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Enclave at Canopy Park will be a Green Building Certified project, offering high-quality features like granite countertops, hardwood cabinets, energy-efficient appliances, and solid flooring\u2014amenities that rival what you\u2019d find in higher-end apartments. It will serve residents earning between 22% and 80% of the Area Median Income.<\/p>\n
To help build a strong sense of community, Archway Partners is also working with Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs to bring in original artwork that will be displayed in public spaces throughout the property.<\/p>\n
Right next door is the Orange County Library System\u2019s South Trail Branch, which will play an active role as a community partner. The library plans to offer on-site job search tools, digital literacy training, and more to help support residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is something far greater than just housing,\u201d said Deborah Aponte, Branch Manager of the South Trail library. \u201cThis represents our community\u2019s belief that everyone deserves a roof over their head, but also an opportunity to build a future.\u201d<\/p>\n