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Kissimmee Commissioner Angela Eady provided an update on her idea to allow some city homeowners to convert 2-car garages into rentable studio apartments.
At the Kissimmee City Commission’s May 7 meeting, Commissioner Angela Eady presented her proposal of offering city help for homeowners to convert their garages into rentable studio apartments to create more affordable housing.
In the two weeks since, the idea has grown in popularity.
“Like I said two weeks ago, this initiative is not for everyone, but it is for somebody,” said Eady. “It makes a difference on whether or not they sleep on the streets or have a roof over their heads.”
Eady said the garage conversion project would highlight homeowners in homesteaded locations with a two-car garage who do not live within an HOA. They could convert said garages into a studio unit to house someone for rent to help someone that’s in need. If the city provides assistance in the conversion, the homeowner would pay the city a portion of the rent to recoup that funding.
“There’s some people that think that the idea is horrible,” said Eady. “But like I said in the meeting, it’s not for everybody.”
Eady said she wanted to let her commissioners know that she has gotten a lot of good reviews regarding garage conversions.
“I spoke with some residents here in the area that have been doing that for years,” Eady said at the May 21 meeting, noting one resident has been doing it for more than two years with a currently occupied unit he rents for $1,300 a month.
“I wish the city would have done it many, many years ago,” said Eady. “ It’s a big help to people that keeps people off the street.”
Eady said the next week or so that she will be going to visit one of the home’s owners that has converted their garage and see for herself how a converted garage is set up.
“This (garage conversions) is for something that is in the case where people can’t afford the high rents that we are experiencing right now, the $1,700 for a one bedroom,” said Eady. “That’s just atrocious.”
Communications Director Alibeth Suarez said Eady’s proposal is currently being evaluated for viability.
“We are considering adding the potential for homeowners to seek funding assistance to construct income-qualified accessory dwelling units to our line of housing assistance programs,” she said, noting commissioners would have to eventually vote on it.
Eady said she is fine if this project is funded by the city or the federal government. She said she will continue to share what information she gains with the other commissioners.
“I think everybody should be able to have an affordable roof over their head,” said Eady.
