Do you believe that Lakeland deserves access to quality local news?
We do, too, which is why this is NOT a paywall.
You can click out and ignore this but we hope you won't because you and readers like you make LkldNow possible.
Plus, when you give now NewsMatch and our local match funders will match your donation, doubling your impact!
Support local news for Lakeland!
We believe everyone should be able to be informed about the place they live so we don't charge to read LkldNow. Instead of paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on contributions from readers like you to fund our journalism. Give Monthly, One-time or Once a Year.
Stay in the know
Get the scoop on what’s happening in Lakeland. Sign up to our weekly newsletter to get all your local news in one email!
Thank you for being a LkldNow reader!
An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.
Get your news straight from the source!
LkldNow is your only truly local, independent news. No paywall. No subscription fees. No opinions. Just Local News. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.
This corner lot at 701 W. Myrtle St. could soon be combined with an adjoining lot to make way for a senior "legacy home." | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
2-minute read
What started as a stalled housing project on a too-small lot is now advancing thanks to Lakeland Habitat for Humanity’s persistence and renewed support from the city of Lakeland.
Habitat’s plan: build one-bedroom “legacy homes” for seniors in aging, unlivable houses that are at risk for demolition due to code violations.
When a home can’t be repaired, Habitat wants to replace it with dignity, affordability and community in mind.
The city steps up: After meeting with Lakeland Habitat for Humanity CEO Claire Twomey and board member Veronica Rountree on June 13, city staff began searching for a way to make two stalled lots buildable. Commissioner Stephanie Madden also attended the meeting.
For a Myrtle Street lot (701 W. Myrtle St.), the city is now advancing a plan to deed an adjacent parcel at 710 N. Ohio Ave. to Habitat. If approved by the City Commission, the combined property would meet size requirements and unlock the first build.
For a Thomas Street lot (641 W. Thomas St.), city planning staff are drafting a zoning amendment that would allow development on historically platted lots under 5,000 square feet. That change could reach the commission as early as November, following review by Lakeland Planning & Zoning in September.
Both lots are currently considered “substandard” under the city’s zoning code due to their size. The regulatory changes could create more options — not just for Habitat, but for other affordable housing efforts across Lakeland.
While Polk ranks near the Florida county average, the need remains urgent.
The Habitat initiative supports seniors in north Lakeland by allowing them to age in place, maintain independence longer and stay connected to nearby family and friends.
Lakeland Habitat for Humanity CEO Claire Twomey, left, and board member Veronica Rountree review design ideas. | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
It’s not just a house: Each “legacy home” could offer life tenancy to a senior in need.
When the resident dies, the home returns to Habitat and is offered to another neighbor in the same community, building a long-term solution from a small footprint.
This is part of Habitat’s broader Neighborhood Revitalization initiative to preserve community identity and improve aging infrastructure.
“It’s not just a house, it’s a legacy,” Twomey said.
The legacy homes would be 660-square-foot cottages with a single bedroom, a bathroom, an eat-in kitchen, a family room, and a location for a washer and dryer, as well as a spacious front porch.
What’s next:
A city review of 710 N. Ohio Ave. is in progress
Lakeland Habitat for Humanity has begun design planning
A zoning amendment goes to Planning & Zoning in September. The city commission may consider it as early as November
A sponsor is still needed for the first build
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.
