EDIT: The original version of this story had a headline that stated “City of Orlando was moving forward with the redevelopment of Griffin Park,” which isn’t necessarily accurate. For clarification, this effort is being led by the Orlando Housing Authority, which is an independent entity, yet the Mayor of Orlando appoints the board. Make of that what you will.
Once Orlando’s oldest public housing enclave, Griffin Park, tucked into a little bowl surrounded by I-4 and State Road 408, will soon be getting a makeover.
Vacant since 2022, the complex, comprised of 23 original buildings, was largely demolished, with just two historic structures remaining. The complex was notoriously plagued by constant exhaust fumes, noise, mold, rats, and poor air quality. Residents, particularly children and the elderly, reportedly suffered chronic respiratory issues, and experts described the environment as “violence of a kind Americans tend to ignore,” as famously reported by Huff Post in 2018 in a piece entitled, “Even Breathing Is A Risk In One Of Orlando’s Poorest Neighborhoods.”
Though when it first opened, it was heralded as a state-of-the-art housing complex, as seen in this article featuring a quote from Mrs. Linton E. Allen (the wife of the man whom the Lake Eola fountain is named after).
The latest redevelopment plans seek to rewrite that chapter. With demolition completed in 2024, new mixed‑income housing is being constructed farther from highway flyovers, signaling a deliberate shift away from exposure to pollution sources, though they’ll still be encircled by busy highways. While green buffers such as landscaping, air filtration systems, or public green spaces were not detailed in recent plans, city officials have historically flagged the need for air quality assessments and beautification efforts for any future projects to be located on the property.
The Orlando Municipal Planning Board recently approved a redevelopment plan that proposes four new 10-story residential towers, totaling around 1,000 units: 565 affordable units for families, 160 senior residences, and 275 market-rate apartments
The design also calls for a new community center, pool, retail space, even a 15,000 SF grocery store, and residents who once called Griffin Park home but were displaced when it needed to be knocked down will be given priority for the new affordable units.
The project is being led by Miami-based Property Markets Group, the same group behind the new Society Orlando (Website) in downtown Orlando.
The City of Orlando is currently looking at rezoning the property from Residential Medium Intensity to Residential High Intensity to allow for the new mixed-use development plans. Construction could begin as early as late 2026, with completion sometime in 2028.
