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Grant To House Teachers Sought

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By RONNIE BLAIR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - The Pasco County School Board voted Tuesday to apply for a $5 million state grant that would be used to build a limited amount of affordable housing for school employees.

Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey and board member Marge Whaley expressed strong reservations, though, before joining board members Frank Parker and Allen Altman in approving the plan. Board member Cathi Martin was absent.

"I just wonder how many people are going to say, 'I really want this,'" Whaley said.

She said no school employees had contacted her to express interest in affordable housing.

Though Starkey wound up voting to apply for the grant, she said it appeared the board was trying to solve a problem the county doesn't have.

"I didn't talk to anyone who thought this was a good idea," Starkey said.

The grant application is to the Community Workforce Housing Innovation Program, which the Legislature set up to provide affordable housing to essential community workers, such as teachers, police officers and firefighters.
School district officials say they want to build 50 housing units as part of an effort to recruit and retain employees at a time when housing costs have put homeownership out of reach for some of those employees.

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.

In addition to Workforce Housing Ventures, the board would partner with the Pasco County Community Development Division, PDC Affordable Housing and General Home Development.
Altman said he had discussions with school officials in other counties, such as Palm Beach and Collier, and was sold on the program.

"It's $5 million that can assist our employees that if we don't take advantage of it will go somewhere else," Altman said.

State Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, also attended the meeting to urge the board to apply for the grant.

He said "there probably will be kinks" in the program. If that's the case, he said he would help work out changes in Tallahassee.

The market value of the homes is expected to be $209,000, but employees would be able to buy them for an average of about $97,000, said Tom Smith, president of General Home Development.

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

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