Courtesy of The City of Sanford

The City of Sanford and Brick Capital Community Development Corporation will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. on Oct. 28 for the new W.T. Wilson Ridge subdivision, which will address the city’s affordable housing needs.

Located on Washington Avenue, the development will be built in phases — the first will provide a 16-unit apartment complex dedicated to permanent supportive housing.

This phase will also add 12 single-family homes, with another 36 to come in a future phase, using the community land trust model. Through the model, Brick Capital CDC maintains ownership of the land, meaning buyers only need to afford the home. Homeowners who choose to sell will receive a portion of the home’s increased value and the home will be sold to another qualified buyer at an affordable price.

The City of Sanford allocated $850,000 in funds made available by the American Rescue Plan Act to provide infrastructure for the project. Lee County supplied a matching grant of $850,000 and Brick Capital CDC committed $450,000. The City also received $950,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to support the project. The CDBG funds are allocated for public utilities, streets, curb and gutter, and flood and drainage improvements.

“Expanding affordable housing availability is a key priority for the Sanford City Council,” said Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon. “This project is about more than building homes — it’s about creating opportunities for families to put down roots and build a stronger future.”

“We are excited to break ground on this new opportunity for accessible and affordable housing for Lee County families,” said Kerry Bashaw, executive director for Brick Capital CDC. “We are grateful to our partners for helping us ensure that our community remains a place where everyone can thrive.”

The development is named for prominent community leader William T. “Bill” Wilson, who was a founding board member of Brick Capital CDC and continually supported the organization’s initiatives, including advocacy for affordable housing and collaboration among local, state, and private entities.

The groundbreaking will be held at 1410 Boykin Avenue in Sanford. The celebration is open to all.