Housing

The fight against a 4-story apartment complex at the northeast corner of Three Oaks Parkway and Coconut Road in Estero is not over.Residents of the Brooks filed an appeal this week with the Village of Estero to reconsider giving the developers of the apartment complex a development order.

Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties achieves its most impactful year during its 40th anniversary, having served a record 1,687 families through affordable homeownership, housing counseling, hurricane recovery services and home repairs.

A new apartment complex being built in Collier County will offer 30 percent of its units at below market rates — what could be good news for essential workers like law enforcement officers and teachers who have struggled for years to find rentals they can afford in Collier County.

A growing number of Hurricane Ian victims are raising their homes to prevent catastrophic flood damage from another storm. That's raise, as in having the entire structures lifted up, and placed on supports.

A rise in the cost of student housing at FGCU was spurred by a “review of capital improvement needs, financial projects (and) market conditions” off-campus and within the state university system, the FGCU board’s agenda said.

Naples photographer Michelle Tricca is working to alter the perception of Immokalee, Florida with larger-than-life murals. “The Face of Immokalee” is an effort to honor, humanize and put a face to the people of the predominantly agricultural community.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved contacts Tuesday on opioid addiction, added to the Department of Community Development and accepted state funds to help with housing and utilities.

Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties, in partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, held a ceremony in Fort Myers Tuesday to welcome Christie Sowell and her family to their new four-bedroom home. Sowell's home was the firtst completed in the 6-acre Habitat HOA community situated between McCormick St. and Prospect Ave. that will eventually feature 29 single-family homes once completed.

Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties will partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on a land-lease agreement that will provide property for temporary housing in the Heritage Heights neighborhood for families displaced due to Hurricane Ian.

With lawmakers on both sides of the debate pointing to a housing crisis, the Florida House on Wednesday passed a controversial bill that would lead to state law trumping local regulations governing landlords and tenants.The Republican-controlled House voted 81-33 along almost-straight party lines to approve the bill (HB 1417). Rep. Paula Stark, R-St. Cloud, joined Democrats in voting against the bill, while Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, voted for it.