MANATEE COUNTY — The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has earmarked $5.6 million for a catalytic loan to help develop 156 affordable housing units in Bradenton.
In December 2024, the BOCC agreed to negotiate the loan for One Stop Housing to build new apartments at its Forest Cove property at 1478 45th Ave. Cir. W. in Bradenton. The site has been home to 36 affordable apartment units, but the developer is partnering with local employers to expand its offerings.
“I think this is going to be an amazing project in the right location,” said Manatee Commission Chair George Kruse. “This is truly an effort to provide what the community needs.”
One Stop Housing representatives previously briefed commissioners, estimating the cost to build the development at $28 million with funding through investments from local businesses, a bank loan and the catalytic loan from Manatee County. Planners say Forest Cove will eventually house over 300 working families within three communities connected to a public center with amenities once completed. A variety of studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom units will be available.
The BOCC also voted unanimously to purchase a 93-acre property along Golf Course Road and Gamble Creek in Parrish for use in stormwater improvement, floodwater mitigation, future road widening and bridge replacement. A new stormwater park will help provide 300 acre-feet of flood storage as part of the $9.5 million purchase. Natural habitats will be managed to support wildlife and passive recreational activities on the property.
County Administrator Charlie Bishop shared an update from Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office that $3.1 million in federal funding has been awarded to Manatee County for the Coquina Beach Engineered Project, making permanent repairs as a direct result of Hurricane Idalia. This work includes the replacement of beach-quality sand obtained from the borrow area in Longboat Pass and work to return the Coquina Beach area to pre-Hurricane Idalia conditions.
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nellmcphillips
I am all for affordable housing but question a County that worries about beach sand and ignores senior citizens whose homes have been condemned or are being told to raise their home in the next 5 years. I understand the rationale of raising homes and having them meet new flood standards. But what about senior citizens in their 80s who rely on social security. They do not have the ability to build up or lose the homes they or their families have lived in for over 50 years or more. Consider the small community of Rubonia. Flooding was never an issue. Hwy 41 was raised blocking the release of stormwater from Rubonia. Then the County in their infinite wisdom decides many years later that a stormwater system will improve stormwater issues. In fact the stormwater system the county installed now exacerbates flooding allowing flood and tidal flow from McMullen Creek to inundate the entire community by way of the stormwater drains. A county engineered system doomed to fail as tidal gates are too much for the county engineers to deal with. Imagine yourself as an 80+ year old widow or widower or even senior citizens with handicaps and mobility issues who has nowhere to live because you have been banned from your own home. Rubonia is a small but mighty community overlooked by the County for real solutions for real people. County social workers have worked hard for this community but in reality this is a community whose historic significance is being ignored and will be forgotten. But money for beach sand - no problem.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this