Orlando’s first public housing sees deplorable conditions, faces demolition

ORLANDO, Fla. — At Griffin Park, Orlando’s first public housing project, residents like Vivian Rodriguez continue to struggle with ongoing deplorable conditions.

“My upstairs bathroom is leaking, so inside the wall there’s a leak coming down to the kitchen and now there’s a hole underneath the cabinet,” said Rodriguez, who has lived in the complex that opened in 1996 for more than three years.

“Now I’m having roaches come inside my apartment,” she said. “They stopped with pesting … so now I’m getting roaches in my apartment, roaches in my kid’s room.”

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The complex, managed by the Orlando Housing Authority, receives funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is unclear how much funding the agency receives for this complex.

In June 2018, the Orlando Housing Authority announced plans to demolish Griffin Park, a Parramore neighborhood just southwest of downtown Orlando.

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Once that process begins, residents will receive vouchers to relocate.

However, a letter sent to residents July 6 said the application to relocate, demolish and redevelop the complex has been submitted to HUD, but the approval of that application is still pending.

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