Janie's Garden Phase II Opens in Newtown

The sun shined Friday morning to make the second phase of Janie’s Garden public housing bloom in Newtown.

“I hope we can all step back and appreciate what we accomplished here,” said Bill Russell, executive director of —a quasi-governmental agency that provides public housing.

The second phase of Janie’s Garden cost $14 million and has 68 apartments and 10,500 square feet of retail space on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. One apartment is already occupied.

The agency and public dignitaries and officials celebrated the grand opening Friday morning with a ribbon cutting, tour and community lunch at the housing complex.

Through a city initiative, contractors were encouraged to hire qualified Newtown workers and about $275,000 in wages was paid to Newtown residents, according to the housing authority. Overall, local workers collectively earned more than $1 million on the project, the housing authority released.

“It’s about partnerships, it’s about community, it’s about job creation and it’s about local, local, local,” Mayor Suzanne Atwell said.

The event also became a milestone for the Sarasota Housing Authority. The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development had to take over the authority in 2005 after the authority’s board was dissolved.

SHA regained control with a new, local board in 2008 and has since worked on bringing improved public housing to the city.

“The progress made since HUD placed SHA into receivership in 2005 through the time it was placed in local control in 2008, to the amazing projects we are here to celebrate today is truly remarkable,” said Deborah Hernandez, general deputy assistant secretary of HUD’s Public and Indian Housing.

The housing authority received, and spent all of, $2.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, she added, for various projects.

Del. Ray Pilon (R—Sarasota) added he wasn’t sure if this project would be completed when it was conceived.

“I remember how dark it seemed and how no light was visible for the housing authority and Newtown area,” he said. “There is a bright light shining now — a very bright light. I’m encouraged by that and want to participate in that.”

The complex features one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, and the market rate for the one-bedroom apartment is $610, according to the housing authority.

A third phase of Janie's Garden is set to start soon, Russell said. South of Phase II where Lemon Avenue meets a dead end, 60 units will be demolished "any day" after HUD approves the demolition, he said.

More information and ways to apply to live in Janie’s Garden can be found on the housing authority’s website, www.sarasotahousing.org.