St. Johns County welcomes new affordable housing apartments that offer units 30% below market rate

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Johns County is adding another affordable housing option to one of its neighborhoods.

The Flagler Crossing Apartments in St. Augustine celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday. City and county leaders also gathered at the complex off US-1, just south of Lewis Speedway.

For leaders in St. Augustine and St. Johns County, it’s a priority to provide more affordable housing options for people wanting to move to the area.

Leonardo Astorima recently moved into the new apartments from Maryland. He said more affordable options are beneficial.

“It helps me just month by month to focus on the things I need to focus on. But then also, I just moved here from out of state. And it’s awesome. moved over here by myself, and I’m enjoying it so far,” Astorima said.

St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline said they’re meeting the need by working with private developers.

“The goal is to provide more affordable housing within the city limits of the city of St. Augustine that will benefit our businesses and create a better quality of life. People need to be able to live where they work, and shop and go to school and see the doctor and all those daily needs,” Sikes-Kline said.

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The apartment complex offers two-bedroom units that start around $1,800, which is up to 30% less than the market rate.

Billy Zeits, Vice President of Government Affairs with Corner Lot Development Group talked about how developers landed on the cost of the apartments.

“So in this property, we have units everywhere between 10% and 30% below what the market would be. And we’ll be having 510 units in this project. So throughout the course of the life of the project, will have anywhere between 100 and 150 units at any time available for rent below the market,” Zeits said.

St. Johns County District 3 Commissioner said the county is also working to add more workforce housing to the community.

“We recognize that our teachers, our firemen, our first responders, you know, they’ve been priced out of the market. So it’s very important to us [...] that the people who work here can also live here. This isn’t just an investment project or an investment property. This is an investment in people,” Alamio said.

Residents like Astorima said he is enjoying Florida and doesn’t plan on “leaving anytime soon.”