A three-story subsidized senior apartment building under construction marks the first phase of the transformation of West Lake Apartments into Twin Lake Estates, named for its location between lakes Beulah and Hunter. The next two phases include both subsidized and market-rate apartments and townhouses housing about 320 families, triple the current capacity | Renderings: Phase 1, Phase 2
Mayor Bill Mutz is convinced that four steps recommended by a local steering committee will significantly reduce homelessness in Lakeland. On Friday morning, he tried to convince his colleagues on the City Commission that the plan needs the city’s financial backing, but several of them questioned whether government should take the lead on the homeless issue.
Explorations V was named the anchor institution at the private Bonnet Springs Park planned for 160 vacant acres west of downtown, LakelandMom reports. The children’s museum expects to move in two to three years to its new space from its current location in the Kress Building on Kentucky Avenue across from Munn Park.
Benjamin Stevenson, director of the Lakeland Housing Authority, said he thought the insect problem at Renaissance at Washington Ridge had been solved and was surprised when ABC Action News reported otherwise this week. He also said some of the senior residents contribute to the problem through hoarding, dumpster diving and other uncleanly habits.
Marilyn Chapel told ABC Action News she complained about bed bugs at Renaissance at Washington Ridge (location) last month, but no action has been taken. A mandatory residents meeting scheduled for today was cancelled.
https://twitter.com/andrealyonTV/status/997171039426760704
Starting this week, SPCA Florida will “rent” dogs for free for a half day on Wednesdays in hopes of finding permanent homes for the pups. Check available dogs on the program’s web page (Note: The page didn’t fully load for me in the Chrome browser, but it did in Safari.)
The 120 WestLake public housing apartments southwest of the RP Funding Center will be demolished to make way for the 320-unit Twin Lakes Estates. But first housing needs to be found for the remaining residents of the existing units.
For Alison Foley-Rothrock and the Red Tent Initiative nonprofit she founded in Lakeland, #metoo and #timesup are more than hashtags; they prompt activism to assist victims of abuse and exploitation.
“The title timesup is really aprospos,” said Foley-Rothrock, whose organization’s annual fund-raiser is scheduled for March 31. “The time has come. Society is ready. It’s time for change. It’s long past due. The social pressure is building. It can’t be just about wearing black dresses and pins. How do we harness the energy? Now, what are we really going to do about it?”
The consultant devising a homelessness strategy for the city of Lakeland is looking for a few good business people to serve on a steering committee to fine-tune and promote a solution.
Susan Pourciau of the Tallahassee-based Florida Housing Coalition gave an update last week on the six months she’s spent in Lakeland and said the steering committee already includes Police Chief Larry Giddens and representatives from health care and philanthropic organizations.
