City cuts ribbon on Parramore Oaks
A long-vacant strip on Parramore Avenue between Carter and Conley streets is on the verge of breathing new life and bringing new residents into the longstruggling neighborhood.
In the coming days, hundreds of residents will begin moving into the first 120 mixed-income units of Parramore Oaks, which includes 96 affordable and workforce housing units.
City officials cut the ribbon on the development Tuesday, which they hope will revitalize the land that once held segregation-era Parramore Village.
“This is going to be the anchor of the south side of Parramore,” said City Commissioner Regina Hill, who represents the neighborhood. “It makes it a neighborhood. It’s not splintered. It brings about community pride because now you have safe, adequate and beautiful housing.”
Combined with other efforts nearby, it brings a much-needed boost in affordable housing to a region that is among the nation’s worst.
In about a year, construction on a second phase will break ground, bringing another 91 apartments there.
Nearby, the city is building several single-family homes that will be sold. Also, the city is in negotiations with the Orlando Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue building units homeowners can buy at Carver Park, where 64 one-bedroom senior rental units and 56 two- and three-bedroom rental units for families are located.
With those developments, “you start to see the transformation of this entire area of this community,” downtown development board executive director
Thomas Chatmon said.
Original plans for Parramore Oaks called for a mix of apartments and 31 townhomes, but Paula Rhodes, president of InVictus
Development, said they were nixed in favor of more apartments to combat rising costs.
She said the project faced added expenses in securing tax credits because of federal reforms, as well as tariffs on building materials and shortages in labor.
In all, the first phase includes 120 mixed-income units, 24 that have no income restrictions. Most of the units are already leased, though about 15 remain available. Parramore Oaks also will maintain an interest list if others open later. Interested tenants can inquire at ParramoreOaks.com.
The remaining 96 are set aside for renters who make 60% or less of the area median income. Six of those are for renters who were homeless and another six are for those making less than 40% of the area median income.
Rents range from $387 for a one-bedroom apartment up to $1,341 for a three-bedroom market-rate unit.
The second phase will have all income-restricted units, with units set aside for renters who make between 30% and 80% of the area median income.
Mayor Buddy Dyer said Parramore Oaks brings quality housing to the neighborhood, noting a redone park across the street is an amenity they can take advantage of.
“It’s not as well used as I thought it would be, but with the families that move in here, I envision that park will be full of children just all of the time having fun and using that great park,” Dyer said.
The buildings are concrete and have laminate flooring and modern kitchens — Chatmon said are the same quality as others downtown.
Hill said she was happy that Parramore residents were engaged throughout the process and hoped the new residents and developments would bring new minority-owned businesses and professionals back to the neighborhood, where thousands have left over the years.
“Who wouldn’t be proud to go to the neighborhood where you have beautiful shrubbery, nice wide sidewalks and a greenspace park for children and then you can ride your bike or walk to a college campus or to a vocational training program?” Hill said. “That’s what neighborhoods are about. You can look downtown and see the skyscrapers but you can still know there’s a place for you in Parramore.” Have a news tip? You can call Ryan at 407-420-5002, email him at rygillespie@orlandosentinel .com, follow him on Twitter @byryangillespie and like his coverage on Facebook @byryangillespie.