Orange County cut the ribbon Friday on Barnett Villas, a 156-unit affordable apartment community that just opened in Pine Hills near Barnett Park. The complex is reserved for households earning about 50 to 70 percent of the area's median income and includes energy-efficient appliances, on-site services, and a resident clubhouse. County leaders called the opening a key piece of a multi-year push to add affordable homes across the region.
County funding pushed this project across the finish line
According to Orange County Government, Barnett Villas came together with a sizable public assistance. The project received $6.8 million from the county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $2.2 million in impact-fee waivers. The county also put in $2.5 million from federal American Rescue Plan dollars, while the Florida Housing Finance Corporation provided a $3.0 million viability loan, the release says. County officials joined Friday’s ribbon-cutting and offered property tours and a resident interview after the ceremony.
Green design and developer
Barnett Villas was developed by Orlando-based Banyan Development Group and is made up of five three-story garden-style buildings with 156 apartments, according to the developer. The community is Florida Green Building Coalition certified and includes Energy Star-rated appliances, washer-and-dryer hookups, upgraded lighting, ceiling fans, and a clubhouse with a fitness center, per the project page.
Banyan’s listing also outlines the income mix for the property: about 25 percent of units are targeted to households at 70 percent of the area median income, 50 percent at 60 percent of AMI, and 25 percent at 50 percent of AMI.
Residents and the county housing push
Residents were already moving in and offering reviews that sounded more like a luxury tour than an affordable rental walkthrough. “I mean, when I first walked in, I thought I was in Hollywood,” resident Fred Williams told ClickOrlando. Barnett Villas joins other recent county-supported projects and sits just steps from Barnett Park, giving residents quick access to trails and sports fields.
How this fits into the Housing For All plan
The opening is part of the county’s broader Housing For All strategy, which created an Affordable Housing Trust Fund with a planned $160 million commitment over its first decade to build and preserve affordable units, according to Orange County Government. County materials say the trust fund has already helped finance thousands of affordable units across Orange County and relies on a mix of county dollars, fee waivers, and state or federal financing to make projects financially viable. Local officials point to Barnett Villas as an example of how public subsidies and private developers can partner to deliver homes for families priced out of the regular market.
More information
For details on floor plans, leasing, and resident services, visit Barnett Villas, or contact Orange County’s Public Information Office at [email protected]. Orange County streamed the ribbon cutting live on its Facebook page; the recording is available on Facebook and is embedded above.
