Local employers are partnering to build new Manatee County affordable housing complex

The Bradenton area won’t get a handle on its affordable housing crisis without fresh thinking and innovation, a Manatee Chamber of Commerce panel agreed this week.

Like having the corporate world chip in to provide housing for their workers, local government providing property tax exemptions for workforce housing and a community finding shelter for the homeless.

Among the most intriguing ideas discussed was the development of a workforce housing community by a partnership of local businesses.

By the end of July, Mark Vengroff of One Stop Housing said that he hopes there will be an operating agreement between more than a dozen local companies to develop an affordable workforce village of about 400 units.

Residents would pay no more than 30% of their earnings for rent.

“The employers would have an equity stake and the employees would pay rent,” Vengroff said.

Bradenton-area workforce housing village in the works

Also envisioned at the village would be a day care center, a training facility, an internet cafe, a dog park and other amenities, Vengroff said.

The partnership has identified, but not yet closed on, the property where the workforce housing village would be developed.

Groundbreaking is projected for the second quarter of 2024 with construction of the first phase taking about 18 months, he said.

“We’re getting really close to getting this off the ground,” Vengroff said, adding that this is just a start.

Sharon Hillstrom, president and CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation, disclosed last October that talks were underway by local companies on a partnership to develop a workforce housing community.

“We have some work to do, but hopefully we are moving in the right direction,” said Hillstrom, who was in the audience for Wednesday’s panel discussion at Palm Aire Country Club.

One Stop Housing is a for-profit company that provides clean, safe and affordable housing to the general public.

Their properties in the Bradenton area include Robin’s Apartments, University Row Apartments, University Oaks, El Patio Bradenton and more.

The corporate workforce housing village is an opportunity for business to put their money where their mouth is, Vengroff said.

Property tax exemptions

Panel member George Kruse, a Manatee County commissioner, said local government is aiding the affordable housing cause through encouraging smaller units, higher density, reduced setbacks and cutting through overly restrictive requirements.

Coming out of the Florida legislative session this year was Senate Bill 102, which includes a provision to exempt property used to provide affordable housing from paying property tax.

That tax exemption could make a difference in increasing the supply of affordable housing.

“We have a lot of employers having a hard time bringing employees here because they can’t afford to live here,” Kruse said.

“My argument is that affordable housing is economic development,” Kruse said.

Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown said that affordable housing is critical to members of the workforce being able to live, work and play in Bradenton.

Since 2015, the city has added or is adding 743 units of affordable housing with more work to be done, Brown said.

A critical need

Bernie Quinn, Manatee Habitat’s president and CEO, said there is an overwhelming need for more affordable housing in the Bradenton area, which has one of the most competitive rental markets in the United States, as well as skyrocketing home prices.

“We provide affordable home ownership. Our clients buy a house from us with a zero interest loan that costs $850 a month, including taxes and insurance,” he said.

Home ownership helps break the cycle of poverty and grow a family’s wealth, Quinn said.

Applicants must make between 50% and 80% of the area median income and be unable to qualify for a traditional mortgage.

Homeowners contribute a minimum of 300 hours of “sweat equity” into building their home.

Manatee County Habitat for Humanity is increasing its capacity, Quinn said.

Since 1994, Habitat has sold 145 homes in Manatee County and 96% of families have paid off their mortgage or are paying off their mortgage.

Each home is approximately 1,335-square-feet with three bedrooms and two baths and costs about $175,000.

Streamline the process

Kruse called for removing barriers to building affordable housing.

“What is stopping these developments? What can we remove to make it easier?” Kruse said.

There is urgency in finding housing for all, including seniors, veterans and members of the workforce, he said.

“We are trying to make every option available to everyone all at once. We are so far behind,” Kruse said.

Mayor Gene Brown said that he is seeing more homeless people on the streets of Bradenton.

“It’s not about kicking the homeless out of Bradenton. It’s about how to get the homeless into attainable housing,” he said. “It’s about collaboration and working with county partners.”

Brown would like to see more housing with wraparound services to get people off the street, but acknowledged that anyone working on homeless issues will also face the NIMBY factor — not in my backyard.

“We have to keep working on what we can do in the short term for the long term,” Brown said.

Betsy Benac, a former Manatee County commissioner who now volunteers at Turning Points, applauded Brown’s concern about the homeless.

“It’s going to be so difficult for people to survive this summer,” Benac said.