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Barker (Harris), Courtney
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TAB 4
Hometown News (Fort Pierce, FL)
March 9, 2006
Condo craze leaves some in the cold
By Shawn Green
TITUSVILLE --Titusville's affordable housing may become a thing of the past if city officials
cannot figure out a solution to the current condominium crisis.
Last year, three apartment buildings-The Villas at La Cita, Royal Oaks and Imperial Towersswitched
from renting their units to selling them leaving some residents who are not in a position
to buy searching for new homes.
For instance, the Villas at La Cita were renting for $480 for a one bedroom, one-bathroom unit to
$580 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom. Now, units in the same building are selling, after being
renovated, for $107,000 to $157,000, depending on the number of options and upgrades chosen
by the consumer.
Chief City Planner Courtney Harris said the conversions definitely had an impact on the city.
"For Titusville, having three major apartment buildings go away is an issue," she said.
Some low-income residents who receive government subsidies to pay large portions of their rent
had to struggle to find new homes when their buildings took the condo plunge.
The conversion at the Imperial Towers Apartments left at least one resident scrambling for an
affordable apartment that accepted her section-8 vouchers.
Christine Sharpe said she and other family members worked for weeks trying to find a place to
live for their sister, a disabled widow after her building went condo last May. Mrs. Sharpe's sister
had to live with no lease on a month-to-month basis until she found a new place to live.
"They're just going condo all over the place," Mrs. Sharpe said. "They could care less; it's all
about the money."
Mrs. Sharpe said it was a difficult task to find a one-bedroom apartment in Titusville that would
accept section 8 tenants and complied with tough Titusville Housing Authority stipulations.
In addition, some apartment building managers told her they give first consideration to police
officers and teachers when renting their units, said Mrs. Sharpe. "I understand they need housing
too," she said. "I'm for getting the drug addicts out (of the city), but what about the old ladies?
We still need low income housing."
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