PINE HILLS, FL — An Orange County church is moving ahead with plans for nearly 300 affordable housing units on land it owns behind its Pine Hills campus. Fellowship Baptist Church of Pine Hills wants to build the apartments on 10 acres of unused property, with the project estimated at $75 million and tied to a county program designed for religious institutions.
The proposal comes as housing costs remain a pressure point for many local households. Church leaders say the apartments would give members of the congregation and nearby residents more options, while Orange County leaders say the development would add needed affordable units for workers, seniors and families in the area.
What The Plan Says
Fellowship Baptist Church’s proposal falls under Orange County’s Affordable Housing for Religious Institutional Lands Program. The county created the program to make approvals easier for churches that want to build affordable housing on land they are not using.
Florida’s “Yes in God’s Backyard” law opened the door for counties to allow affordable housing on church property even when the land is not zoned residential. Orange County’s version goes further than the state minimum by requiring that all units meet the county’s affordability standards. County leaders have approved the project and are now working to finalize funding.
How It Fits The Past
Pastor Alandus Sims said his father, Arthur Sims, bought the land for the church in 1992 with a community mission in mind. Sims said the project reflects that long-running purpose and described affordable housing as part of his father’s legacy of service and equality.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the development would help meet what he called critical housing needs. He said the project would help keep rent within reach for a range of residents, from senior citizens to young families. Church member Jacquelyn Wisenbaker also said she expects some congregants and neighbors could benefit from living there.
What Happens Next
Groundbreaking is expected late next year, although the financing still needs to be finalized before construction can begin. The county has said its Affordable Housing Trust Fund has paid for more than 2,200 new affordable housing units since 2020, and officials have set aside $160 million to build or preserve 11,000 affordable units by 2030.
For Pine Hills residents, the project could eventually add a large block of income-restricted apartments on church-owned land that has sat unused. People who want to track the plan can follow Orange County housing program updates and county commission notices for funding, approvals and construction milestones.
More on what homes, rents and new builds are doing near you, on RHS Commoner.
