As Orange County continues to address the affordable housing crisis, the Enclave at Canopy Park breaks ground, bringing hope of accessible homes to residents. The new 104-unit apartment community in the Holden Heights neighborhood marches on thanks to financial injections from Orange County's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. In a ceremony held April 14, Mayor Jerry L. Demings, alongside District 6 Commissioner Michael Scott, swung the first shovels of dirt, marking a new phase of development that aims to tackle a problem that is all too real for many.
The trust fund, a key player in this narrative, has committed $55 million since its inception in 2020 to aid local housing projects. The Enclave at Canopy Park is a beneficiary, having received a $3 million slice of this pie in 2024. Miami-based Archway Partners leads the development, and according to President Brett Green, the financial support was the missing piece. "We 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," Green stated, as reported by the Orange County news release.
Mayor Demings has not been coy about the importance of affordable housing for the county, betting big on assuaging a rent-stressed population. A staggering figure of 110,000 households were struggling with housing payments when Demings took office seven years ago, and despite economic headwinds including a pandemic, Orange County is striving to still continuing to move the needle within our community, the Mayor highlighted.
The Enclave at Canopy Park goes beyond the typical mold of affordable housing, it's Green Building Certified and promises features paralleling those in pricier digs, from granite countertops to energy-efficient appliances. These units are designed for those earning between 22% and 80% of the Area Median Income, making strides in housing inclusivity.
For more insights into the initiative, OCFL Newsroom offers in-depth coverage and updates.
