Onward with Upward

The Marion County School Board meets in Ocala on May 28, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

Marion County School Board members say it is not a matter of “if” but “when” Upward Communities launches its innovative program for affordable housing intended solely for local school district staff.

After Upward’s initial pitch to the board on June 19 for housing solely for educators, the company continued communication with the school district’s legal team and staff. Upward Communities CEO Jason Roberts spoke again at the Aug. 14 board meeting to provide an update on contract negotiations.

Upward Communities is a Texas-based company created to retain and support essential educators by providing affordable housing near their schools. The company plans to launch its first Florida community in Marion County. For more information, read the “Gazette’s” prior article at ocalagazette.com/workforce-housing

Roberts played an informative video about the details of leasing during the recent session to help staff and the public understand how this process works. The video explained that the school district would partner with Upward Communities through a triple-net lease.

The district will cover taxes, insurance and maintenance, while Upward manages operations, resident services and rent collection. The district sets program goals and Upward executes them.

Lease payments for staff will be fixed for the first year, with predictable increases, giving stability for tenants. The video said this model will provide the district with control and flexibility without any upfront costs.

Roberts noted that he met with district staff on Aug. 13 to review documents and address any concerns.

“After seeing the response from the school board, after seeing the response from the city, whom we’ve met with, and even some county officials about the support, we’re going to double our resources and double our efforts to applying this and making this happen as soon as possible,” he said.

Roberts said district staff will give the company time to respond to questions throughout the back-and-forth leasing structure discussion. He said he will fly in with his team from Texas to Florida every two weeks to meet for in-person conversations.

The next step after continued communication with the legal team will be to secure property in the southeastern region of Ocala, where Upward Communities has already located land.

Roberts’ presentation at the session said an ideal housing site is within 20 minutes of schools, connected to roads and utilities, zoned for residential use, large enough for planned homes and financially feasible.

“A lot of blessings have fallen in our lap,” he said.

When looking at locations, he said, property owners have accommodated Upward Communities due to their purpose.

“You’ve got a wonderful community,” Roberts said. “You’ve got wonderful people here who want amazing things for your school district, and it really shows. Other places, we’re not blessed with that same type of opportunity.”

He said choosing and acquiring a site usually takes nine months to a year, but the three county properties Upward Communities has reviewed are already entitled with utilities, saving the company that time.

Following land procurement, Roberts said Upward Communities will need to conduct surveys to know how many staff members and which educators will be interested in being housed. He said the company’s other properties in the U.S. have required double the units they initially built due to a growing list of interested parties and staff.

Board member Allison Campbell was supportive of the proposal.

“I’m saying that when this happens, not if this happens, but when this happens and it’s a done deal and we’re moving forward, then staff involvement completely changes,” she said.

Roberts said staff involvement is required to tailor the design of the homes being built and make each desirable enough to help retain educators.

He said each member who leaves the school district costs about $25,000, so building this community in Marion County will help Upward Communities incentivize staff to stay and even recruit new hires.

“This is for you,” he said. “In order to serve you very well, we just have to know you and we have to be able to communicate what your needs are, and once we know those needs, we’re good soldiers, we’re going to go forth and march and go get that done.”