LAKE CITY, Fla. – A new affordable housing development is set to bring more than 40 hurricane-resilient units to Lake City.
The Greater Lake City Community Development Corporation (CDC), in partnership with ReVital Development Group and Birdsong Housing Partners, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning to mark the start of construction for Sweetwater Apartments – Phase II.
“Investing in affordable housing is a holistic approach to solving a whole lot of issues in your community,” Lake City Mayor Noah Walker said.
According to a release, the new development will add 48 energy-efficient and storm-resilient affordable units.
Those units will be reserved for households earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), with specific allocations for families at or below the 30% and 40% AMI thresholds.
“There are families who are struggling to make ends meet and find a place where they can put a roof over their head without struggling paycheck to paycheck. So it affects everyone when that’s the case,” Walker said.
Unit Mix and Rents
| Unit Type | AMI | # Units | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR / 1 BA | 30% | 3 | $405 |
| 1 BR / 1 BA | 40% | 3 | $558 |
| 1 BR / 1 BA | 60% | 18 | $867 |
| 2 BR / 2 BA | 30% | 2 | $596 |
| 2 BR / 2 BA | 40% | 2 | $671 |
| 2 BR / 2 BA | 60% | 20 | $1,041 |
Income Limits / Persons in Household
| AMI | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $16,100 | $21,150 | $26,650 |
| 40% | $23,080 | $26,360 | $29,640 |
| 60% | $34,620 | $39,540 | $44,460 |
According to a release, Sweetwater II represents the first new construction multifamily affordable housing development in Lake City in more than 20 years.
These apartments are meant to be a safe place for families during hurricane season. Developer Michael Allan said that was an important part of this project.
“They’re moving at a quick pace initially on the site right now, we’re looking at early 2026, for the clubhouse, which is actually where we’re standing right now, and then the buildings will be shortly thereafter,” Allan said.
The 6.78-acre site is located near the intersection of NE Martin Luther King Jr. St. and NE Joe Coney Ter.
Applications for housing at Sweetwater Apartments in Lake City are expected to open up in early 2026. For more information, click here.
