Manatee School District explores ideas to address affordable housing for employees

The Manatee County School Board is currently in negotiations with a developer to address the critical issue of affordable housing for teachers and other staff members within the school district who are grappling with housing affordability challenges.

One Stop Housing has expressed interest in constructing 132 apartments on five acres of land owned by the district, situated at 2501 63rd Ave. E, Bradenton, adjacent to the Professional Support Center. District officials have clarified that there are no intentions to erect a school on the premises.

The proposed project entails the construction of two four-story buildings featuring a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments. Planned amenities for the complex include a clubhouse, workspace, laundry facilities, and in-unit washer and dryer setups for one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Superintendent Jason Wysong has outlined the district's strategy to conduct a comprehensive survey among teachers and staff to accurately gauge the demand for workforce housing.

Kevin Chapman, the district’s executive director of administration, has detailed that the survey will encompass inquiries regarding employees' housing status, such as renting or owning, the number of bedrooms in their current accommodation, rental expenses, and their perception of reasonable rental costs.

Mark Vengroff, managing partner for One Stop Housing, emphasized that the survey responses could significantly influence the final design of the apartments, with a commitment to ensuring affordability, capped at 30% of a teacher’s monthly salary.

One Stop Housing, known for its previous project Robin’s Apartments, aims to address the housing affordability crisis. The company has recently initiated work on another affordable housing project, The Nest at Robin’s, slated to introduce an additional 182 workforce housing units in the area.

With Manatee County Schools employing over 6,000 individuals, including teachers with a starting salary of approximately $57,000, the proposed affordable housing complex could offer rental rates aligning with educators' financial capabilities.

Acknowledging the persistent housing challenges in Manatee County, Sharon Hillstrom, president and CEO of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation, stressed the urgency of tackling the issue.

The concept of constructing workforce housing for teachers and staff has surfaced in other Florida districts. School Board Member Chad Choate III highlighted similar endeavors in Miami-Dade County, where district leaders aim to repurpose some schools into workforce housing.

However, not all board members share the same level of enthusiasm. Cindy Spray expressed mixed feelings about the project's potential outcomes, acknowledging both its appeal and inherent risks.

Richard Tatem, another board member, urged careful consideration of how the housing initiative might impact employee morale, suggesting the implementation of a lottery system to allocate workforce housing units among eligible staff members.

Gina Messenger, School Board Member, emphasized the overarching objective of assisting teachers and staff members in establishing roots in Manatee County, fostering stability within the community.

The school board has yet to reach a final decision regarding the potential sale of the property to One Stop Housing. Officials are anticipated to deliberate on the proposal in upcoming public meetings.