Surplus Lands for Affordable Housing

In its 2006 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1363, the omnibus affordable housing bill. The bill was signed into law by the governor in July 2006. This sweeping state legislation recognizes that:

• Providing affordable housing is vitally important to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of this state,
• Escalating property values and development costs have contributed to the inadequate supply of housing for low- and moderate-income residents, and
• A shortage of sites available for housing for persons and families with low and moderate incomes exists.

Among other initiatives to expand the supply of affordable housing for Florida's citizens, HB 1363 directs all local municipalities to assemble an inventory of city-owned land that may be used for the furtherance of affordable housing. While a specific disposition process was not articulated in the legislation, HB 1363 states that the inventoried properties may be sold with the proceeds applied to permanent affordable housing initiatives or otherwise made available for permanent affordable housing development, or if already improved, redevelopment. The deadline for assembling the list for approval from the City of Jacksonville's City Council is June 30, 2007. The enabling legislation is 2007-656-E.

The City of Jacksonville recognized this need in 1997 by passing Ordinance 1997-14-E. This bill established a system to donate property to not for profit corporations for residential housing for low/moderate individuals. The not for profit corporations included in this bill are Habit for Humanity of Jacksonville, Inc. and Community Housing Development Organizations.
Sub-parts to Ordinance 1997-14-E (Acrobat PDF files):
Sale of Unused Parcels of Land
Community Redevelopment Real Property Dispostions
Donation of Property for Certain Residential Housing
Real Property Dispositions

A list of City-owned parcels from among over 37,000 parcels county-wide was prepared by the Housing and Neighborhoods and Planning and Development Departments. This original list does not contend that all parcels on the list are suitable for housing or any other development, nor does it mean that these are the only parcels that will be included on the official list, but to meet the requirements established by HB 1363, a base list was required to be generated. The City Council must update this list at least once every three years per HB 1363 or when deemed necessary. The Housing and Neighborhoods Department evaluates the list and makes the necessary updates to present to Council, and then works with developers for the dispensation of lands to eligible entities.

As further clarified by the adoption of Ordinance 2010-520-E on Aug. 24, 2010, the list has been revised to include only those properties owned by the City of Jacksonville and appropriate for affordable housing activities. The original list has been divided into two separate lists. One (1) containing properties owned by the Housing and Neighborhoods Department only (click here) and the other containing properties owned by any other City of Jacksonville department. (click here) The lists can be accessed by selecting the appropriate link.

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For questions or additional information, please contact:

Kenny Logsdon, AICP
Senior Planner
(904) 255-8237
logsdon@coj.net