PANAMA CITY — The Panama City Housing Authority plans to build a 100-unit senior affordable housing complex on 12 acres it bought on Frankford Avenue just south of 23rd Street.
The L-shaped piece of heavily wooded land sits directly in front of Andrews Place Apartments, with Heritage partners up the street. But, because the property is zoned general commercial, any change in zoning or land use would require a vote from the Planning Board and City Commission.
“I’m sure there’s somebody who is going to object to it,” said Housing Authority Executive Director Joe Woods.
The development most likely would be one- and two-bedroom apartments for those 65 and older, with duplexes in the southern portion of the property and two-story apartment buildings in the northern section.
Woods estimated the project will cost $12 million to complete. By the end of the month, Cypress Environmental of Bay County will provide a report declaring what parts of the property are viable for clearing and construction.
“I think it’s really an asset to the community,” Woods said. “I think it’s needed.”
The plan, at least for now, is that the housing authority will pay for the development in part with profits from the North Gate II community of 64 units, only 22 of which are income-based apartments. Woods said the Housing Authority already has half of the funding needed for the project and is proposing bank financing for the remaining total and would not need tax credits. Rents would be income-based, with the tenant paying 30 percent of adjusted income.
“We want to put that money back into the community,” Woods said.
The Housing Authority receives much of its funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It does not receive general funding from the state or the city. However, the group’s five-person board is appointed by the Panama City Commission.
The question of low-income housing for elderly residents has been a hot topic in Panama City, where commissioners are scheduled to vote Monday on the development order for a 44-unit senior affordable housing complex at the old Marie Hotel requested by Royal American.
Mayor Greg Brudnicki said each affordable housing situation should be evaluated individually. He said the Marie Hotel plan and a second proposal from Royal American sparked specific public outcry; opponents worried about some type of accident with Airgas with a proposed property at 1615 Florida Ave., and downtown merchants, including the Downtown Improvement Board, have opposed the Marie Hotel location.
“I don’t think anybody has carte blanche,” Brudnicki said. “It makes more sense for it to be (on Frankford) with the other structures around, on first blush.”
Downtown property owner Dwight Hicks has been one of the most vocal opponents of the Marie and his stance is not changing for a development on Frankford.
“My answer to that is no,” he said. “Would I support medium- to high-income? Yes, I would. I don’t think the city needs more low-income housing.”
Marie Hotel property owner Joey Chapman supports the Housing Authority and its general plan, but he is concerned with the city potentially taking a hypocritical stance on the affordable housing issue.
“You either have too much affordable housing or you don’t,” Chapman said. “They’ve touted that they’ve had enough of it.”