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School Board To Vote On Housing

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By RONNIE BLAIR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 18, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - Affordable housing for school district employees will be back on the agenda when the Pasco County School Board meets at 6 p.m. today.

The board is scheduled to vote on whether to apply for a $5 million affordable housing grant through the state's Community Workforce Housing Innovation Program.
District officials say they want to build 50 housing units as part of an effort to recruit and retain teachers and other employees at a time when housing costs have put homeownership out of reach for some of those employees.

The board originally planned to vote on the grant application Dec. 3, but chairwoman Kathryn Starkey asked for more time to study the proposal.

She also said she preferred to vote on the measure when more than three board members were present. Cathi Martin and Allen Altman were absent from the Dec. 3 meeting.

In a partnership with housing agencies, consultants and a builder, the school board plans to build 40 town homes on 4 acres the school district owns next to Marlowe Elementary in New Port Richey.

In addition, 10 houses would be built in Zephyrhills on property owned by Workforce Housing Ventures, a nonprofit housing organization that is partnering with the school district.

The deadline to apply for the grant is Jan. 31.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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