{"id":437594,"date":"2025-12-10T10:13:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T10:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/437594\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T10:13:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T10:13:46","slug":"ability-housing-opens-90-unit-affordable-housing-development-in-westside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/437594\/","title":{"rendered":"Ability Housing opens 90-unit affordable housing development in Westside"},"content":{"rendered":"

As clouds gave way to sunlight on a chilly morning, Jacksonville\u2019s Ability Housing debuted the city\u2019s newest affordable housing development in the Westside on Dec. 9.<\/p>\n

The development, Village at Cedar Hills, offers 90 units for rent, with most of its units already reserved. The $30.7 million project, which broke ground in 2024, comprises 36 one-bedroom units, 45 two-bedroom units, nine three-bedroom units and a community center.<\/p>\n

It is at 5051 Harlow Blvd., northeast of the 103rd Street interchange at Interstate 295.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do this work not because it\u2019s easy, but (because) it\u2019s so hard and it\u2019s so needed and it\u2019s so impactful,\u201d said Reggie Fullwood, chair of Ability Housing\u2019s board of directors, during an opening event.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know affordability and housing is such a major issue in our country, especially in our state and our city. Projects like this make it better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The community center at Village at Cedar Hills, an affordable housing community that opened Dec. 9 at 5051 Harlow Blvd. in West Jacksonville. The community offers 90 units with rents from about $500 to $1,380 based on household size and income. Ability Housing, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit, developed the $30.7 million project.<\/p>\n

Ability Housing, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit, owns 11 completed developments in Duval, Orange and Osceola counties, according to its website. It houses 1,888 residents and has three projects in development.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rents at the Village at Cedar Hills are based on household size and income, Ability Housing said. They are about $500 for a one-bedroom unit for a household earning 30% or less of area median income, up to about $1,380 for a three-bedroom unit for a household earning as much as 60% of area median income.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The entrance to the Village at Cedar Hills at 5051 Harlow Blvd. in West Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

Village at Cedar Hills<\/p>\n

The property\u2019s community center will include on-site leasing offices, a computer lab, a library, space for workshop events, and an outdoor playground, fitness equipment and a walking track.<\/p>\n

Ability Housing\u2019s leaders said the project, which serves as a pilot program, will help with Jacksonville\u2019s indigent care needs. The nonprofit will grant 18 units to residents who rely on emergency, in-patient and acute-services care. Those residents will be provided on-site case workers in an effort to keep them out of Jacksonville\u2019s hospitals.<\/p>\n

\"Village<\/p>\n

Village at Cedar Hills, an affordable housing community that opened Dec. 9 at 5051 Harlow Blvd. in West Jacksonville, offers 90 units with rents from about $500 to $1,380 based on household size and income. Ability Housing, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit, developed the $30.7 million project.<\/p>\n

Those 18 renters will be placed with Ability Housing through LSF Health Systems, a Jacksonville-based not-for-profit managing entity that works to provide health care for uninsured or underinsured people facing poverty.<\/p>\n

\u201cHousing is health care,\u201d LSF Executive Vice President Christine Cauffield said. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have a roof over your head, and you have a disability, you are struggling with a mental health challenge \u2013 you\u2019re not going to be able to really focus on your treatment plan and your medication management and all that\u2019s needed to keep you stable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The property will provide six units reserved for individuals or families exiting homelessness.<\/p>\n

While not all of the units are leased, Fullwood said a high percentage had been reserved. The units had 200 applicants seeking to fill the 90 units.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Village at Cedar Hills, an affordable housing community that opened Dec. 9 at 5051 Harlow Blvd. in West Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

Village at Cedar Hills<\/p>\n

Speakers at the Dec. 9 event highlighted Jacksonville\u2019s need for affordable housing. Fullwood noted that according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there are only 33 available housing units available in Florida per 100 renter households that earn 50% or lower of area median income.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe simply have to do better, and we are doing better,\u201d Mayor Donna Deegan said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to make housing more affordable, keep building solutions that meet people where they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Florida Housing Finance Corp. awarded more than $9 million in funding for the project, the city of Jacksonville provided a $1 million grant and the Local Initiatives Support Corp. provided $50,000.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A unit at Village at Cedar Hills, an affordable housing community that opened Dec. 9 at 5051 Harlow Blvd. in West Jacksonville. Ability Housing, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit, developed the $30.7 million project.<\/p>\n

Group 4 Design Inc. was the project architect, Elkins Construction LLC was the general contractor and Kennedy Civil Services was the civil engineer.<\/p>\n

With 10 of its developments located in Jacksonville, Ability Housing is seeking to expand its reach across Florida, Fullwood said. Up next for the organization is a ribbon-cutting ceremony in West St. Augustine.<\/p>\n

\u201cJacksonville is home base, but our goal is to help as many people as we can around the state of Florida,\u201d Fullwood said. \u201cWe really look at ourselves as a headquartered-in-Jacksonville state agency that\u2019s trying to address the issues of homelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A unit at Village at Cedar Hills, an affordable housing community that opened Dec. 9 at 5051 Harlow Blvd. in West Jacksonville. The community offers 90 units with rents from about $500 to $1,380 based on household size and income.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A room in the community center at Village at Cedar Hills, an affordable housing community that opened Dec. 9 at 5051 Harlow Blvd. in West Jacksonville. Ability Housing, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit, developed the $30.7 million project.<\/p>\n

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