The Lake County Commissioners unanimously selected a Maryland company to build a cottage community in Tavares as part of a federally funded housing initiative.
Originally planned as transitional housing exclusively for veterans, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office recommended expanding the potential clientele due to the proximity to the Lake Technical College firing range. It will now also serve individuals and families seeking stable housing.
Set to rise on a 3.11-acre parcel at the northwest corner of County Road 561 and Frankies Road, the project is adjacent to the Lake Area Radio Kontrol Squadron, or L.A.R.K.S, flying field and is planned to contain 21 detached, cottage-style homes.
Of the 21 homes, 18 will contain one bedroom and three will serve as ADA-compliant two-bedroom units.
Funds provided by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, will support full construction and land development services for the proposed project, estimated at just under $5 million.
According to Lake County Grants Program Manager Sean Beaudet, the county received three responses for potential contractors to develop the housing project. The county’s selection committee, which operates through the Office of Procurement Services, chose Maryland-based Nichols Contracting.
As part of their $5 million proposal, Nichols Contracting estimated the project will cost $3.88 million for building construction and $1.12 million for utilities.
Baudet said $400,000 of ARPA funds previously set aside for mobile shower and laundry trailers will be reallocated toward the housing project, bringing the revised budget for the project to approximately $5.1 million.
Commission Chair Leslie Campione said that while the board was “disappointed” the project would not be used strictly for veterans, it represents an opportunity to provide housing for individuals and families in need.
“This would then be used for basically rapid rehousing, when you have someone that you’re trying to get into permanent housing and you need a place for them,” she said. “We would include wraparound social services from the standpoint of case workers, though that would not be done by us. That would be done by a separate entity that would handle those kind of issues.”
Campione also pushed for several of the cottages to be set aside for storms or other emergency situations that required immediate housing needs.
“In the past, we’ve worked with the Mid Florida Homeless Coalition and they’ve actually used hotel rooms,” she said. “That falls under very specific parameters and is not necessarily the easiest thing to do, so this should serve several purposes and fit within that ARPA funding.”
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Nichols Contracting proposal, allowing them to move forward with development.
Less than a mile west of the proposed housing project, down Frankies Road, Lake County is planning on developing a new fairgrounds location.
Early concept plans for the fairgrounds were approved by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners back in October.
The proposed 68-acre fairgrounds property has been owned by the county since the 1970s and is directly adjacent to the Lake County Animal Shelter, less than a half-mile east of State Road 19.
Also less than a mile west down Frankies Road from the proposed housing project, south of the county’s planned future fairgrounds location, an investment group led by real estate firm Maury L. Carter & Associates recently purchased 345 acres in Tavares for $5 million in cash.
Daryl Carter, president of the investment firm and son of Maury L. Carter, said they bought the property from the Loma Linda Corporation, an old citrus family group, in a quick close sale back in November. Conrad Carter, Daryl Carter’s son, also assisted in closing the deal.
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