Can’t figure out how to fix failing schools? Flip them.
And become part of Mayor Donna Deegan’s Affordable Housing Syndicate.
Lake Forest Elementary’s academic performance was so poor, instead of fixing the problem, the Duval County Public School Board decided to send the kids over to North Shore Elementary and permanently close the school, back in 2019.
Problem solved.
Then, another problem.
Jacksonville is still suffering from an affordable housing crisis, despite all the mayor’s efforts.
“We’re 50,000 homes in the red right now,” Mayor Deegan said.
Last year it was 35,000.
The solution.
Redevelop the failure, just as other U.S. cities have done, by transitioning under performing government schools into government subsidized housing.
Then host a political pep rally reframing their past professional mistakes as community revitalization.
Right on cue… Duval County Public Schools, local politicians, nonprofits, and representatives of Bank of America, gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new $46 million affordable housing complex – Village of Lake Forest – being built on top of what once was Lake Forest Elementary.
Several years ago, City Council rezoned the 9.8-acre property, making way for a real estate development between DCPS and a local housing nonprofit – Ability Housing – to build the complex complete with computer lab, jobs training center, library, walking trail, playground, and a pre-K school.
A majority of the apartment homes will be reserved for those meeting certain low-income requirements. A quarter of the apartments will be reserved for DCPS staff so they can live in subsidized housing alongside the same students and families their employer failed to adequately serve.
A few of the project’s main stakeholders spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“We’ve had so many people ask, ‘Why don’t y’all do this more with school properties that are closing?’… Here we are,” Deegan proudly told the crowd.
“We’re excited to add another 120 affordable apartments to the dashboard today. In total, 7,000 below market rate homes have been built or on the way since I took office.”
What an incredible accomplishment for her.
Deegan excitedly referred to the project as a “blueprint” and a “wonderful way” to build so-called affordable housing, as if a failed school isn’t the reason why this is happening.
Reggie Fullwood, the new CEO of Ability Housing and one of North Florida’s most revered nonprofit darlings, told the crowd as someone who was born and raised in Jacksonville it’s “exciting” to raze “a building that was closed,” so his nonprofit can once again “make it a community hub, but in a different way.”
Not better. Just different.
Jim Culbert, DCPS’ COO, hyped up attendees exclaiming he’s “honored” to represent an “A school district.” As the crowd cheered, he quickly glossed over the property’s past.
“Although the final bell has rung at Lake Forest Elementary several years ago,” he said, “I feel confident in saying that we are all benefiting from this master class in teamwork, collaboration, and community.”
Too bad this “masterclass” wasn’t available back in 2019 before LFE was abandoned and sold to Ability Housing for $1 million to satisfy DCPS’ stated, “main goal” of avoiding potential “blight.”
Lake Forest Elementary does have at least one success story – from the private industry guy representing Bank of America. The bank is underwriting the project’s construction financing.
Audience members let out a loud collective gasp and applauded after he announced he graduated from LFE.
“I remember running the halls here many, many years ago. So, it’s fun to be here to be able to celebrate this important milestone alongside so many dedicated civic leaders and partners,” he said.
It’s like a full-circle nonprofit fairy tale.
Groundbreaking ceremony cringe continues.
City Council member Ju’Coby Pittman (District 10) made light of the “little bit of change” needed to build the complex.
“It took a little time to get some money.”
“Y’all know we all need what?”
“Money” the crowd replied.
“…money, to make it happen,” Pittman added. “And so, I am unapologetic to say, I’m excited about the commitment that is made to this community.”
No need for apologies. No one remembers that DCPS decided it was better to close the school instead of forking over $11 million in renovations, preserving the 70-year-old neighborhood school, like the community wanted.
Pittman believes the housing project will provide stability and a pathway to generational wealth because – “we deserve that as well.”
“Y’all say ‘deserve that as well.’ Say it like you mean it,” she urged.
“Deserve it as well.”
Pittman added, “We are not waiting on change. We are creating change. Say creating change.”
“Creating change.”
Creating change is expensive and layered.
According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, the project’s $46 million “unique funding stack” includes:
$18.1 million in low-income housing tax credits from a publicly funded national nonprofit.
$10 million permanent mortgage underwritten by another publicly funded national nonprofit.
$9.5 million from Jacksonville’s taxpayers via COJ and local publicly funded nonprofits.
$23 million construction mortgage underwritten by Bank of America – also once publicly funded, but no one remembers TARP either.
Elkins Construction reportedly received a $15 million permit to demo the site earlier this year.
A “win-win” as local media put it.
Overall, the ceremony felt less like a real estate groundbreaking and more like an awards banquet for publicly subsidized teamwork.
Meanwhile, the original purpose of the 9.8-acre property – educating children – quietly fades into the background.
Because under Deegan’s leadership, an “F” school isn’t a failure.
It’s a redevelopment opportunity.
