Developer wants to build 60 North Lakeland townhomes for people at risk of homelessness

Sara-Megan Walsh, The Ledger
·2 min read
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This rendering shows an early vision of Fort Lauderdale-based developer Green Mills Group's concept for multi-family apartments at 225 and 419 Griffin Road -- dubbed Griffin Lofts.
This rendering shows an early vision of Fort Lauderdale-based developer Green Mills Group's concept for multi-family apartments at 225 and 419 Griffin Road -- dubbed Griffin Lofts.

LAKELAND — Fort Launderdale-based developer Green Mills Group hasn't quite put the finishing touches on one apartment complex and it's already set its sights on creating more housing in Lakeland.

Oscar Sol, Green Mills' founder and principal, said there are plans to build 60 multi-family apartments at 225 and 419 Griffin Road. Sol said the $20.7 million development will be designed for those who formerly have been homeless or are at-risk of becoming homeless.

"It will look just like market-rate housing, only some of the units will have supportive services," he said.

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The properties are on the north side of Griffen Road between U.S. 98 and North Florida Avenue. Green Mills' plans depict a four-story building at a proposed height of 53 feet. The building will contain a mix of 38 one-bedroom and 22 two-bedroom units. Sol said 12 of the apartments will be specifically designated for people making 40% or less of AMI, which is $16,555 for an individual or $23,625 for a family of four.

There are 48 affordable apartments that will be rented to people making 60% of less of the AMI, which is $28,380 for an individual or $40,500 for a family of four based on the 2022 guidelines.

"We've been pretty active in creating affordable and workforce housing in Lakeland," Sol said.

Green Mills Group constructed and opened Aida Palms, a 96-unit affordable housing complex off Lakeland Hills Boulevard, in June 2017. Since then, it has built 80 apartments at Midtown Lofts and hopes to finish construction of Parker Pointe at 900 E. Bella Vista St. near Tigertown this summer.

Unlike its prior housing complex, Sol said Green Mills intends to turn over ownership of Griffin Lofts to Carrfour Holding LLC. It's better known as the Miami-based nonprofit Carrfour Supportive Housing. Sol said the nonprofit will either have its own staff on site or work with local agencies to provide comprehensive, on-site programs to help the complex's future residents.

"[Carrfour] has mostly worked in Miami but have been starting to branch out  to Broward, Melbourne and now we're bringing them to Lakeland," Sol said.

Lakeland commissioners will be asked to approve a brownfield designation for the housing site at Monday's commission meeting, which under state law would allow the developers to secure a tax refund on building supplies. The commission will meet 9 a.m. Monday at City Hall, 228 S. Massachusetts Ave.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: North Lakeland townhomes planned for people at risk of homelessness