Ken Dwyer, President of the Pine Hills Community Council and tireless community advocate is adamant that, notwithstanding the challenges of the Pine Hills community, it is ripe for re-development. Noting the area has been somewhat overlooked, he cites among its “big pluses”, the grid system, higher than average metro Orlando home-ownership and rich cultural diversity.
“Related to the history of the area, is the fact that a majority of the residences are owner-occupied,” Dwyer said in an exclusive interview with West Orlando News Online. “In Pine Hills this goes from a low of 61 percent on the eastern side, to a high of 70 percent on the western side. By contrast, in the City of Orlando, the average is 50 percent and in Orange County, it is 60 percent. So, the people in Pine Hills are loyal to the community and that’s a big plus.”
Dwyer acknowledges there are some issues related to crime but says, “If you live here, you feel safe. There are some problems on the main streets and thoroughfares that do not get into the more residential areas.”
