Orange County, FL: Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs will unveil plans to transform the former Seville Place Apartments in Pine Hills into a redeveloped affordable housing community during a groundbreaking ceremony this week.  Mayor Jacobs will announce details of the new “Emerald Villas” project at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 3124 N. Pine Hills Road. This is also located across the street from the renovated Maynard Evans High School. 

Work on the project began 2 years ago after the Seville Place property fell into disrepair and foreclosure.  Orange County Government, along with partners Related Urban and the Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation decided to buy the land using funds from a Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The NSP, created by Congress, allows local governments to respond to rising residential foreclosures by providing the means to purchase, rehabilitate and then resell foreclosed homes. The program also pays for the demolition of abandoned, blighted properties while providing down payment assistance for home buyers. Orange County is contributing $7.0 million from the NSP to help fund the project and another $1.6 from a state funded affordable housing program.  

The new Emerald Villas will include 264 rental units, a clubhouse with business center and computers, fitness center, tennis courts and pool. Studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans will be available.  Construction should be complete by December, 2012.   

“There were a lot of challenges to getting the project done,” said Mayor Jacobs, “but at the end of the day Orange County’s commitment to the project made all the difference.”