It was one year ago when renovations began, to transform to Serville Place Apartments on Pine Hills road into a redeveloped affordable housing community. And on Wednesday, Related Urban Development Group (RUDG), Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ONIC), county officials and other guests, celebrated its grand opening.
Now called Emerald Villas, the newly renovated development boasts 264 units which have all been updated with new flooring, plumbing, appliances and windows.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, CEO of RUDG, Jorge Perez and executives of RUDG and ONIC, who were all on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony, lauded the $20 million renovation, which has transformed the community from a blighted neighborhood, to a place that one is proud to call home.
According to Tabitha Matthews, Property Manager of Emerald Villas, the development boasts studios, one, two and three bedroom units, complete with a brand new clubhouse, classrooms, business, fitness center and pool. The now energy-efficient buildings were also remodeled with new roofs and landscaping.
Matthews said, Emerald Villas is currently 65 percent occupied and she anticipates the remaining units will be filled soon.
The property was acquired through a joint venture by RUDG and ONIC in April, 2011. Orange County contributed $7 million to the project, with an additional $1.6 million from a state-funded affordable housing program. At the time the property was acquired, it was 70 percent vacant.
Emerald Villas is located at 3124 North Pine Hills Road and directly across from the new Evans High School.
