While attainable housing continues to be an urgent topic of discussion across Northeast Florida, Corner Lot and the City of Jacksonville have joined forces in an effort to deliver workforce housing to North Jacksonville in a location near numerous employment centers and transportation corridors.
The Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved a development agreement this month for Avion, Corner Lot’s new multifamily community located at 12525 Tibbets Lane, Jacksonville, Florida 32218. Once complete, the development will include 320 apartment homes with 30% of those units designated as workforce housing offering rental rates adjusted to 100% of the area medium income. The workforce housing rental rates will remain the same for the first four years and will only be subject to a 2% increase annually each year thereafter. The workforce housing component is of particular note during a time when Jacksonville metro rents have risen at historically high rates and a well-documented housing shortage is a citywide concern.
“Avion provided us with the perfect opportunity to meet a community need at the right time and in the right location close to several major employment centers,” said Andy Allen, Corner Lot CEO. “We appreciate the Jacksonville City Council thinking outside the box and working with Corner Lot in taking a creative approach to the attainable housing shortage in our city so our teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers can live and work in the same community.”
Avion will offer 320 units for a total of 560 bedrooms in eight four-story buildings with elevators with one, two, and three-bedroom floor plans. Community amenities include a resort-style pool, clubhouse, 24-hour fitness center, outdoor fitness facility, dog park, picnic area, walking trail, community room, and mail room. With all units completed in the same fit and finish, luxury interior amenities will include wood-style flooring, 42-inch shaker cabinets, granite counter tops, subway tile backsplash, stand-up glass showers, and walk-in closets. In addition, each apartment will include stainless steel appliances and a washer and dryer.
The new community will be located adjacent to the Amazon Fulfillment Center and in close proximity to the Jacksonville International Airport, I-95, and I-295. The project came to fruition in partnership with the City of Jacksonville Economic Development Department and originated from Corner Lot’s participation in the city’s ongoing Quality of Life Initiative, which was created to address healthcare, affordable housing, and homelessness. Summit Contracting Group will partner with Corner Lot on the construction, which is scheduled to begin in Summer 2023 and be completed by Fall 2025.