FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marcia Hope Goodwin 407-246-3107

CITY OF ORLANDO HOUSING
DEPARTMENT TO LAUNCH
PARRAMORE VILLAGE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

ORLANDO, FL (August 15, 2003) -- Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will be joined by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Mel Martinez, Secretary of State Glenda E. Hood and City Commissioner Daisy Lynum on Monday, August 18, 2003, at 9:15 a.m. at the corner of South Parramore Ave. and Conley St. to begin demolition of the Parramore Village Complex. This is the first step in the city’s effort to eliminate unsafe and substandard housing in the multi-family development.

HUD provided $1,750,000 of the $2,895,000 required for the demolition and relocation through Community Development Block Grants. To date, the City owns, or has contracts to purchase, 42 of the developments’ 69 units. The site will be redeveloped to provide quality affordable housing.

In the mid-1960s, Parramore Village Condominiums were constructed and represented an important part of the residential landscape of the Parramore neighborhood. Unfortunately, after four decades of wear and neglect, the condition of the units has substantially declined.

In 1990, the Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) initiated a Study of Blight, mandated by the Florida Community Redevelopment Act. The study identified Parramore Village as a “blighted area.” The study pointed out the critical importance of the redevelopment of the Parramore Village complex (bounded on the north by America St., on the south by Conley St., on the west by Short Ave. and on the east by South Parramore Ave.) to the community.

The City responded to the findings of the study by developing an initiative to address the housing conditions at Parramore Village. Priority was given to residents who qualified for rehabilitation assistance. A comprehensive tenting and pest control plan was implemented and the City encouraged and assisted tenants who were interested in purchasing the units in which they lived. Despite these efforts, the condition of units in the Parramore Village complex continued to decline and owners continued to leave the area.

A follow-up study was conducted in 2002 to determine if in fact the area continued to meet the definition of a slum, blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating area. This study revealed that the vast majority of the units were in deplorable condition and represented a threat to the health and safety of the residents. The study also concluded that the conditions that existed at Parramore Village had a negative impact on the surrounding neighborhood, relative to reinvestment and redevelopment.

In March 2003, the Orlando City Council approved the designation of the Parramore Village complex as a “Project.” The designation began the process of the city acquiring all of the units and relocating the residents for the clearance and redevelopment of the site.

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