Business leaders announced a new public/private initiative Wednesday to help provide affordable housing for teachers in Lee County – right away. It comes as developers are finding fewer condo buyers at present prices. At least fifty new condominiums at a development called “Osprey Cove” will be sold soon -- to educators only. Qualified teachers from the Lee County School System as well as Edison Community College and Florida Gulf Coast University – can buy the 2-bedroom two-bath condos for about 100-thousand dollars BELOW their appraised value. Lee County School Superintendent James Browder says it’s a great start to addressing the affordable housing shortage.
“Iits one of the two or three things we struggle with because teachers can’t afford to come here and live and this will at least start that thinking in our community – we need to do things to attract the best and brightes.t”
Lee County recruits about five hundred new teachers every year. Funds to help reduce mortgages were provided by a number of local businesses – with a million dollars coming from developer ‘Bonita Bay Group’. Osprey Cove will be ready for occupants by December.
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Lee County business leaders are taking a proactive stance to provide affordable housing for educators. Wednesday they announced a public-private initiative called “Homes for Teachers”. Businesses are putting up money to help educators buy homes at a soon to be completed condominium complex in South Lee County.
Scott Edmonds, President of Chicos, says the clothing retailer is delighted to participate.
“One of the toughest issues we face when recruiting executives from places like new york city and Chicago is the quality of our education system in lee county. teachers are the cornerstone of our education system and in order to provide the best educational opportunities for children in our community we need to start with the best teachers and in order to attract the best teachers we must be able to provide affordable housing for them and their families.”
Fifty condominium units at Osprey Cove will held for qualified teachers only – from the Lee County School System, Edison Community College and Florida Gulf Coast University. The condos will be ready in December and sell for about 180 thousand dollars.