TAMPA, Fla. -- A Bay area non-profit is working to secure an affordable future in the University area of Tampa.
- USF and start ups could push residents out of neighborhood
- University Area Community Development Corporation is buying land to secure affordable housing
The University Area Community Development Corporation (UACDC) is buying acres of land with plans of building affordable housing.
With the University of South Florida and high tech start ups so close by, there's a concern residents could eventually be priced out of the neighborhood.
Community leaders said they want to buy now to preserve the affordability.
"The longer you wait, the more expensive the land will be ... eventually it will be too expensive for us to purchase for people to live here," said UACDC Director Real Estate and Facilities Mike Marshall. "Our goal is to make sure the neighborhood doesn't become gentrified. People who live in the neighborhood can become homeowners."
But even with good intentions, selling the idea to residents could be a challenge.
"When I'm looking at the neighborhood I live in, do I really want to buy a house that I will probably be paying for, for 10 to 20 years, that doesn't even look good?" said resident Marsha Albury. "I don't event want to live here."
Instead of buying property, Albury said she'd like to see more attention on safety, like adding sidewalks for families.
"If you want to work on a community, why not start at the issue?" Albury said.
Community leaders said they're working on the sidewalks, but that wont happen until 2019. Meanwhile, the plan is to continue to buy property while it's still relatively cheap.
The UACDC has spent about $500,000 buying land in the area. The community group has purchased 16 parcels of land for condominiums, townhouses, apartments and houses.
Last month, the UACDC board approved an additional $420,000 for more land purchases in the area. Habitat for Humanity has plans to start building homes on some of the property this summer.