Frequently Asked Questions

The Choice Neighborhoods program is a capital investment program for redeveloping public housing and other HUD-assisted housing. It is a grant program administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program leverages public and private dollars to support locally-driven strategies meant to address neighborhoods struggling with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing. The program prompts collaboration between local leaders, residents, stakeholders, and developers to design and implement a plan (Transformation Plan) to revitalize distressed public housing and the surrounding neighborhoods by addressing three areas:

• Housing – replacing distressed public housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is well-managed, energy-efficient, sustainable, accessible, and equitable for all communities regardless of background. 

• People – supporting the current residents of the target public housing site(s) to achieve personal goals related to health, employment, and/or education for themselves and/or their families. 

• Neighborhood – investing in amenities and assets – including businesses, public safety, transportation, parks, infrastructure, and more – that enhance the neighborhood and make it a great place to live for all residents. 

Lift Orlando and the Orlando Housing Authority (OHA), with support from the City of Orlando, received a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant to develop such a plan – called a Transformation Plan – for Lake Mann Homes and Lorna Doone Apartments, and the surrounding West Lakes/Washington Shores neighborhood in partnership with residents, local leaders, schools, business owners, and other community stakeholders. See a map of the target neighborhood on the opposite side of this page.

For years, the residents of Orlando Housing Authority sites, Lorna Doone Apartments (West Lakes) and Lake Mann Homes (Washington Shores/Lake Mann) have expressed the need to improve their housing communities. The sites are outdated, and the unit configurations are not ideal for living. 

• Lake Mann Homes, a family public housing site with 210 units

• Lorna Doone Apartments, a senior public housing site with 104 units

Lift Orlando, OHA, and the City will work with residents of Lake Mann Homes and Lorna Doone Apartments, community members in the West Lakes/Washington Shores neighborhood, local organizations, service providers, City departments, and more to develop the plan. Working groups will be created to address priority issues like housing, economic development, transportation, employment, education, health and wellness, and more. Lift Orlando, OHA, and the City will host several community meetings to obtain broader community involvement and input as the plan develops. There will also be focus groups and multiple other opportunities for you to get involved. The first part of the planning process will be spent understanding the community and the needs and priorities of its residents. This will include a detailed resident survey with Lake Mann Home and Lorna Doone households, a community survey with the broader West Lakes/Washington Shores community, a parcel inventory, one-on-one stakeholder interviews, and more. The second part will be spent working with you to establish a vision for the community; identify goals for Housing, People, and Neighborhood; and develop strategies to achieve those goals. Finally, the last part of the planning process will be drafting the Transformation Plan itself, including details on how the plan will be implemented in the coming years. 

Three working groups will be created to help develop the goals and strategies for each of the three elements of the Transformation Plan: Housing, People, and Neighborhood. There may also be more specific subgroups and/or focus groups that cover subjects such as education, health, jobs, activities for youth, activities for seniors, crime/safety, transportation, and others. If you are interested in joining a working group, please email: Natalie@LiftOrlando.org

The Strategic Advisory Group is made up of representatives from the target public housing residents, the broader community, community-based organizations, and city officials. The group will meet periodically throughout the planning process to provide input and oversight to Lift Orlando and OHA on the development of the Transformation Plan. Members include:

• Sherry Magee, Senior Director, KPMG, Chair

• Nicholas Abrahams, EVP, Strategic Partnerships, OEP

• Timothy Ayers, Executive Director, West Lakes Partnership

• Vivian Bryant, President, OHA

• Bernadette Davis, President, Lake Lorna Doone HOA

• Cecelia Davis, Resident, Lorna Doone Apartments 

• Steve Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Florida Citrus Sports

• Sandy Hostetter, VP of Asset Development, Lift Orlando

• Macene Isom, Member, Washington Shores HOA 

• Natalie Lovero, Choice Project Manager, Lift Orlando

• Michelle Matthews, EVP, Purpose Built Communities

• Stephanie Neves, Housing Development Project Manager, City of Orlando

• Clay Rivers, President, Washington Shores HOA

• Eligio Santana, Resident, Lake Mann Homes

• Bettye Williams, President, Lake Mann Estates HOA

• Dr. Bridget Williams, Deputy Superintendent, Executive Services, Orange County Public Schools

• Thomas Williams, COO, Dr. Phillips Charities

Yes! It is our goal to engage a diverse set of individuals and organizations in the planning process and welcome participation from anyone who is interested.

Lift Orlando, OHA, and the City have two years from the grant award to complete the Transformation Plan for Lake Mann Homes and Lorna Doone Apartments, and the surrounding West Lakes/Washington Shores neighborhood. The process started in October 2023 and will be completed by September 2025. 

The anticipated cost to support the two-year planning effort and create the Transformation Plan is $1,800,000. HUD contributed $500,000 via the Choice Neighborhoods Planning grant. The City of Orlando contributed another $250,000. Lift Orlando and OHA are responsible for the remaining $1,050,000 through cash and in-kind contributions.

During the planning process, Lift Orlando, OHA, the City, and partners will explore funding opportunities to be able to quickly transition from planning to implementation once the Transformation Plan is complete. One potential source of funding is a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. This highly competitive national program offers up to $50 million over 8 years to help communities implement their Transformation Plan. Lift Orlando, OHA, and the City are working to develop a Transformation Plan that will meet all of the requirements and be competitive for a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant.

HUD requires that all 314 existing units at Lake Mann Homes and Lorna Doone Apartments be replaced one-for-one. This means that our plan cannot reduce the number of HUD-subsidized units that currently exist. In addition, to be competitive for Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant funding, the Housing Plan needs to include a minimum of 315 additional mixed-income rent units. Ideally, at least 20% of these additional units will be unsubsidized/market rate if the market study, to be completed as part of the planning process, determines this is feasible.

No. Lift Orlando, OHA, and the City are only developing a Transformation Plan through this process. You do not have to move. If Lake Mann or Lorna Doone residents need to move at any point in the future, OHA will provide plenty of notice in writing and via resident meetings and will work with each affected family to address their relocation needs.

Information and announcements will be regularly posted to the project website at Choice-Orlando.com.

• Participate in the neighborhood survey - schedule a time to complete  

• Attend neighborhood meetings, workshops, focus groups and more - explore more

• Sign up for a working group or focus group - contact Natalie@LiftOrlando.org for more info

• Sign up for the newsletter