WHAT:
Tanushree Bhowmik was balancing a full plate-attending nursing school, working at AdventHealth and raising her young son on her own. Despite her hard work, the rising cost of rent made it increasingly difficult to keep up. After several months of searching for an affordable place to live, she found a home at Palm Gardens Orlando. Since moving in last month, Tanushree has been able to shift her focus back to her goals: graduating next year, saving for a larger unit and eventually owning a home of her own.
For Olme Pineda, a longtime Central Florida resident, life took an unexpected turn after a serious illness prevented him from working full-time in the landscaping industry. Without a steady income, he had to move in with family temporarily while he focused on recovery. Determined to regain his independence and provide a home for his son, Olme eventually found that opportunity at Palm Gardens Orlando.
On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Tanushree and Olme will welcome Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, District 3 City Commissioner Robert F. Stuart, One Stop Housing, Orange County Public Schools, Synovus Bank, Cushman & Wakefield and One Stop Cares to celebrate completion of the second and final phase of Palm Gardens Orlando and its transformation from the blighted Ambassador Hotel into a safe, affordable community for residents.
Following the ribbon cutting, attendees will get a first look at two of the newly completed units. The 150 units at Palm Gardens Orlando consist of 149 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments reserved for residents with incomes at or less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and one unit reserved for live-in property management. Fifteen of the units will be designated for permanent supportive housing.
The City of Orlando remains committed to ensuring that every person, regardless of economic status, has access to quality housing that is safe and affordable and continues to work to develop short and long-term strategies to expand the city's housing inventory for residents at all income levels. This project is one of the first to be approved for funding through the city's Accelerate Orlando initiative, which is leveraging $58 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds to further the city's efforts in tackling homelessness and affordable housing.
Interested residents should call 689.312.6270 or visit onestophousing.com/apply-online to apply.
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
10 a.m.
WHERE:
Palm Gardens Orlando Apartments
929 West Colonial Drive
WHO:
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
District 3 City Commissioner Robert F. Stuart
Mark Vengroff, One Stop Housing, LLC
Dr. Bridget Williams, Orange County Public Schools
Kevin Gillen, Synovus Bank
Glen Jaffee, Cushman & Wakefield
Maurice Campbell, One Stop Cares
Tanushree Bowmick, Resident
Olme Pineda, Resident
MEDIA INFORMATION:
Parking will be reserved in the parking lot of the property at 929 West Colonial Drive, with driveway access from Westmoreland Drive.
BACKGROUND:
As part of its Accelerate Orlando initiative, the City of Orlando contributed more than $4 million to support the conversion of the hotel into an apartment community. Palm Gardens Orlando will have a 30-year affordability period, starting from the date all completed units have been leased. Annually, any rent increases will be restricted to the annual rates set by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, based on the income limits established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to ensure continued affordability.
One Stop Housing, LLC is a vertically integrated Real Estate Development, General Contracting, and Property Management company dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable workforce housing across Florida. With over 40 years of experience, One Stop Housing has become a leader in building new ground up block construction mix use multifamily apartments and hotel to apartment conversions at a significant savings. This unique approach enables the company to offer rental rates that are truly affordable for working families. Currently, One Stop Housing owns and manages over 4,000 economical housing units throughout the state, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable, community-focused housing solutions.
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