EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine May 2020 | Page 10

Building quality housing for individuals and families of all life stages and income levels is an integral part of ensuring a better community. Volusia County currently has 232,517 households. With an additional 55,000 people projected to move to the County over the next ten years, the area needs a varied housing inventory to accommodate residents now and in the future. Apartment Homes On the Rise, Offering Affordability and Convenience Whether its close proximity to transportation hubs like the airport, the peace of mind that comes from knowing weekly maintenance is not part of the weekend’s to-do list, or a dazzling array of amenities, including pools, fire pits and youth play areas– apartment living is on the rise in Volusia County. Referred to by leasing agents as luxury or ‘glam apartments’, Volusia is seeing additional multi-family units constructed in places like Tomoka Town Center and as part of the future plans for Downtown Daytona Beach. A recent Daytona Beach News-Journal article noted an estimated 4,000 new units are on the horizon. While they do pack density into an area, the positive impacts of multi-family housing include greater connectivity. In some cases, the housing is seamlessly included in some cases are seamlessly included in a mixed used walkable development, which includes retail, restaurant and entertainment options, something Volusia County Council Chairman Ed Kelley can appreciate. I think self-contained communities are fantastic as long as the new developments do not contribute to Ed Kelley | 4 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE