Wells Fargo presented a $100,000 grant Nov. 14, to Florida Home Partnership, to help future development of Plant City’s Alexander Woods community.
After the check presentation, attendees broke ground on the site of the new building.
“This $100,000 is a great step,” FHP Executive Director Earl Pfeiffer said.
Wells Fargo has worked with FHP before, donating money for a Ruskin community. FHP is a non-profit homebuilder that offers homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers through the USDA Mutual Self-Help Housing Program.
The grant for Alexander Woods was awarded following an application process. Wells Fargo was looking for an actively involved non-profit experienced with community revitalization that already had a project underway. The grant was part of $6 million Wells Fargo was distributing around the nation. Only nine grants were given in Florida.
“We have realized over the years that the economy has been hard on people not just all over the country but right here in Florida,” said Steve Schultz, area president of the community bank of Wells Fargo.
Situated behind Plant City High School, Alexander Woods was left unfinished by its previous developer. Hillsborough County purchased the community in August 2010, for $1,034,500. The county then approached the FHP with a request for proposal to develop the community.
Partnering with the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, FHP took over the development a little over a year ago.
There already were two buildings constructed before the previous developer went into foreclosure.
There are 14 units completed with an additional unit scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. So far, 25 units have been sold. Two closed this month, with three more scheduled in November and two more in December. Ten families live in the development.
Board President Don Shea said it sends chills down his spine to see families moved in from what the abandoned settlement it once was.
“I’m so happy to be part of this,” Shea said.
The residents seem happy as well. Jody and Susan Fain were the first to move in this summer. They moved into the first building that already was completed by the previous developer. Because of this, it has higher ceilings than the other buildings and granite countertops.
“We like it,” Jody Fain said. “It’s nice; it’s got hardwood floors.”
In total, there will be 80 units divided into 15 buildings on the 6-acre property. The five townhome floor plans range from $85,000 to $105,000.
The Maple, a two-bedroom, two-and-one-half-bath home, and The Cypress, a three-bedroom, two-bath home, are plans from the previous developer. Both feature 19-foot ceilings and large windows in the living room area, as well as a small loft.
The three other plans, which range from two-bedroom, two-and-one-half-bath homes to three-bedroom, two-and-one-half-bath homes, are more energy efficient.
The development also has a clubhouse, pool and playground.
Earlier this year, Alexander Woods won the Grand Award for homes priced less than $151,000 in the Tampa Bay Parade of Homes.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.