The Longwood Gardens senior attainable housing project in Inverness has secured its tax credits from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, clearing a major hurdle that stalled the project in previous years. City Manager Eric Williams told the Inverness City Council that the proposed 55-plus senior attainable housing community on Forest Drive has been approved and has gone through the appeal period, allowing it to proceed.
The 92-unit rental community, planned for 6.5 acres at 500 Longwood Ave. and Forest Drive, will offer one- and two-bedroom apartments along with a clubhouse, fitness center, swimming pool, game room and media center. The site sits near Whispering Pines Villas and Regency Park. The project’s planned unit development was previously approved by the council after a “protracted process” that included amending the city’s comprehensive plan to allow high-density residential on the site.
Because Inverness has no corresponding high-density zoning district, the city required the developer, Mike Arnold of Green Mills, to proceed through a planned development, giving the council greater control over the final design and conditions. “Finally this year, they won,” Williams said. “They have been approved and they’ve gone through the appeal period. So Longwood Gardens is slated to be able to proceed.”
The project had been stalled multiple times due to the competitive nature of the state’s housing lottery. However, with the secured tax credits, the project can now move forward. The city loan support helped secure credits for the developer.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
