ORLANDO, Fla. – Along Silver Star Road in the heart of Pine Hills is where you’ll find Hawthorne Park — a 120-unit affordable housing development exclusively for seniors.
The $27.6 million complex, which replaced a portion of an underutilized shopping plaza, opened in 2022. News 6 spoke with one of the residents — Penny — who was one of the first to move in.
“Most people here are on a fixed income,” she said. “It’s hard nowadays. It’s very hard.”
Penny pays around $1,000 per month for her one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit. The complex is also flush with amenities, including a fitness center, community garden, pool, theater room, and dog park.
“That’s my favorite place because it’s peaceful and quiet,” Penny said about the dog park. “My second favorite is the pool. You got to have a pool.”
According to a report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Metro Orlando has the fourth-highest deficit of affordable housing in the United States with only 18 affordable units available for every 100 extremely low-income renters.
Given the critical shortage, Penny feels very fortunate to call Hawthorne Park home.
“That’s why have so many people out there who are homeless,” she added. “You have to have two or three incomes just to make it.”
Former Orange County Commissioner Victoria Siplin now works for Wendover Housing Partners — the affordable housing developer behind Hawthorne Park.
“Affordable housing is needed in all of our communities,” she said. “85% of the extremely low-income renters are severely cost-burdened. That means that these residents pay more than 50% of their income towards rent and utilities.”
Hawthorne Park isn’t just getting results for the people who live there. Since it opened, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says the surrounding community has actually become safer.
“Crime has reduced 36% and the calls for service have decreased 14%,” Siplin said. “It speaks volumes to the stereotype of what people think affordable housing means to a community.”
Penny, who was initially skeptical about moving to Pine Hills, told News 6 the change is noticeable.
“I believe that (it’s safer),” she said. “It used to be called ‘Crime Hills’ but I can’t say that no more. It’s changed a lot.”
When asked whether enough people know about the overall improvement, Penny responded, “They need to.”
Hawthorne Park also provides seniors with healthcare services such as seminars and health fairs. A salon, arts and crafts room, and food pantry are also on-site.
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