Filling the affordable housing gap: Volusia Habitat project providing 40 new housing units

As mortgage and rent costs have skyrocketed across Volusia County, the need for affordable housing has grown more and more dire.

There has been a smattering of new affordable housing here and there, but so far a largescale solution has eluded local governments and nonprofits.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Volusia County, however, has figured out a way to put a bigger dent in the problem than it ever has.

Since its inception in 1986, the nonprofit has usually only built or renovated a home or two at a time. But now the local Habitat organization is about to create its own subdivision of homes just north of Daytona Beach that will provide 40 affordable housing units to financially struggling local residents.

And best of all, the inhabitants of the development will own their brand new homes.

"What better way to make a positive, permanent contribution than to provide 40 homes?" said Jim Kotas, secretary of the board for the Volusia County Habitat affiliate.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday morning to celebrate the planned Legacy Woods subdivision, which is located in an unincorporated area west of Nova Road and several blocks north of LPGA Boulevard.

A group of about 70 people gathered on the sandy piece of vacant land that will soon become the site of eight single-family homes and 16 duplexes that will collectively have space for about 120 people.

Site work on the raw land will begin next month, construction is slated to begin this fall, and the first residents could be moving in sometime early next year.

Who will live in the new Habitat homes?

Legacy Woods would not have been possible without the generosity of D.S. Patel, who donated the 6.5-acre site on Flomich Street in late 2019.

Patel, an engineer who lives in Daytona Beach, had planned to build for-profit townhomes on the wooded piece of land in a quiet neighborhood.

But when he received a devastating cancer diagnosis about five years ago, he decided to donate the property and sell off other properties he owned.

He has outlived his doctors' predictions for his terminal cancer, and he was able to attend Friday's groundbreaking and toss some sandy dirt alongside several Habitat officials and local leaders.

"We both used to volunteer for Habitat," said Patel's wife, Angela. "We want to help single parents."

The main street that will run through the new development will be called Angela Court to honor the couple's contribution.

At the front of the small subdivision will be eight single-family homes that will be about 1,400-1,500 square feet and have two or three bedrooms. The rest of the property, which is flanked by natural tree buffers, will be covered with two rows of townhomes that will also have two or three bedrooms.

The property sits several feet above the road, and that elevation reduces the flood risk for those who will live there.

It hasn't been determined yet who will live in the houses. Habitat has some candidates, but is looking for more.

Those who want to own a Habitat home have to go through a thorough application process. They also have to work alongside volunteers on the construction of their potential new home, attend homeowner and financial literacy classes, and save money for closing costs.

Those chosen to own a home purchase a house from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Volusia County, and they get a zero-interest mortgage.

As people build equity in their home, Habitat uses the cash flow to help support the building of the next house.

'There's no way we can be stopped'

In its 38 years, the local Habitat agency has housed 195 families that included more than 400 children. Soon that tally will rise to 235 families.

In addition to Patel's land donation, several others have also made major contributions of both expertise and money that will make Legacy Woods possible.

Among those helping out are Zahn Engineering; A.A Wilbert, Jr., Land Surveying, Inc.; Cobb Cole attorneys; Hazen Construction and TopBuild. Major donors include TopBuild, Bob and Carol Allen, Chrysalis Foundation, David Evans III, William Akers, Jr., and the Georgia O. Akers Foundation.

State Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, also helped secure a $400,000 grant for infrastructure work.

During Friday's groundbreaking, Lori Gillooly, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Volusia County, stressed how grateful she is for Patel's donation.

"We can't tell you how much it means to us," Gillooly said. "We're all excited."

She also listed others who have made the project possible, saying "we appreciate all of you for your contributions."

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Kotas said the name Legacy Woods is a reflection of "the legacy of the donors to change 40 families' lives."

"There are people who say 'yes, but,' and there are people who say 'yes, and,' and they find their way around obstacles and make things happen," said Jeff Beck, president of the board of directors for the local Habitat agency.

Everyone asked to help with Legacy Woods did, Beck said.

"Not a single person said no, I can't be bothered," Beck said. "We've got a willing team and we've got momentum. There's no way we can be stopped."

You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Habitat for Humanity Greater Volusia County about to build new homes