New development will turn former school property into affordable housing and early learning center on Jacksonville’s Northside
Apr. 15, 2026 — Jacksonville, Fla. — Representatives from Ability Housing, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), the City of Jacksonville, Bank of America, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and other community partners today broke ground on Village at Lake Forest: a transformative redevelopment of the former Lake Forest Elementary School property. The new community at 901 Kennard Street will bring 120 affordable apartment homes to Jacksonville’s Northside, bringing new life to a parcel that has been vacant since the school’s closure in 2019.
This new development is the result of a unique partnership between Ability Housing and DCPS to ensure the site’s future use would honor its educational past. In a first-of-its-kind agreement, Ability Housing will set aside 25% of the units for DCPS faculty and staff — creating a vital resource to support district-wide recruitment and retention. Additionally, DCPS will operate an on-site early learning center.
“Village of Lake Forest is an exceptional example of true collaboration between engaged citizens, the school district and a nonprofit developer focused on changing lives through housing,” said Reggie Fullwood, CEO of Ability Housing. “We are transforming this long-dormant campus into a thriving community asset that will provide quality, affordable homes for working families and educators, and an enriching environment for our youngest neighbors to take their first educational steps.”
The apartment community will include five three-story residential buildings offering a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Additional amenities will include a community center, computer lab, library and flexible spaces for workshops, training and events.
All units will be affordable to households earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 23 units available to households earning up to 80% AMI. Rents are calculated by household size and income, based on data updated annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Plans for the on-site early learning center were solidified through community listening sessions during the development planning process. The center will be available to families residing at Village at Lake Forest as well as the surrounding neighborhood.
“Redeveloping the former Lake Forest Elementary site into quality affordable housing with an early learning center is a meaningful way to reimagine its service to the public,” said Jim Culbert, Chief Operations Officer of Duval County Public Schools. “When students, families and educators call the same neighborhood home, the entire community benefits. We’re proud to partner with Ability Housing on this project, which will help Team Duval continue to attract and retain the highest quality professionals to serve our students every day.”
Funding for the $46 million development has been secured through a variety of public and private sources. Bank of America is underwriting a $23 million construction mortgage. Non-profit syndicator National Equity Fund is providing approximately $18.1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity. The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) Mortgage is underwriting a $10 million permanent mortgage. Additional support has been provided by the City of Jacksonville through a $4 million Community Development Block Grant and a $2.5 million HOME loan; $2.5 million in financing from the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority; and a $500,000 impact investment from The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida through its Local Capital Pool.
“The Village at Lake Forest is a shining example of how public-private partnerships can address our city’s critical need for affordable housing,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “This development is building a stronger Jacksonville by turning a shuttered school property into a vibrant new community that brings dedicated homes for educators and high-quality early learning to the neighborhood."
Construction for the Village at Lake Forest is anticipated to take 18 months. PQH is the project architect. Elkins Construction, LLC is the general contractor, and Kennedy Civil Services is the civil engineering firm. Leasing details will be available closer to completion.
For more information about Ability Housing’s properties throughout Florida, visit www.abilityhousing.org.
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About Ability Housing
Ability Housing is an industry-leading not-for-profit multifamily rental housing developer dedicated to creating high-quality affordable housing. We invest in communities through properties that enhance their surrounding neighborhoods, improve each community’s quality of life, and connect residents with a network of voluntary support services.
For more information, visit abilityhousing.org, like the organization on Facebook (facebook.com/AbilityHousing) and follow on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/ability-housing/).