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Orlando opens 150 affordable housing units at former hotel site

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Published  May 28, 2025 12:50pm EDT
Orange County
FOX 35 Orlando
New affordable housing opens in Orlando

New affordable housing opens in Orlando

A new affordable housing building opened on Wednesday in Orlando. FOX 35's Randi Hildreth has more information on how this can help the housing crisis in the community.

The Brief

    • Orlando officials celebrated the grand opening of 150 affordable housing units at Palm Gardens Orlando, a former blighted hotel transformed into a community for low-income residents.
    • The project is part of the city’s Accelerate Orlando initiative, aimed at expanding affordable housing and combating homelessness.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 3 City Commissioner Robert F. Stuart joined community partners Wednesday to mark the grand opening of Phase Two of Palm Gardens Orlando, a 150-unit affordable housing community transformed from the once-blighted Ambassador Hotel.

What we know:

The project, led by One Stop Housing, offers 149 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments for residents earning 80% or less of the area median income, with one unit reserved for live-in property management. Fifteen units are designated for permanent supportive housing.

What they're saying:

"Palm Gardens Orlando is a tangible example of our commitment to creating affordable, high-quality housing options for residents in need," Dyer said. "This is more than a building—it’s a place where people can regain stability and focus on building their futures."

Residents like Tanushree Bhowmik, a single mother and nursing student, and Olme Pineda, a father recovering from illness, shared their personal stories at the event, highlighting the life-changing impact of affordable housing. The opening ceremony included a ribbon-cutting and tours of two completed units.

Palm Gardens Orlando is one of the first projects funded through the city’s Accelerate Orlando initiative, which utilizes $58 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to combat homelessness and expand affordable housing.

Applications for units are available at onestophousing.com/apply-online or by calling 689-312-6270.

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The Source: The information in this article comes from the City of Orlando, Mayor Buddy Dyer and One Stop Housing, LLC.

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