Welcome to the Neighborhood
by Jeannine Gage
For many, rising home prices have made the dream of homeownership increasingly difficult to achieve. Even working professionals are struggling to put down roots with a house of their own.
Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka is working to change that reality through Legacy Square, a new 19-home community in Sanford that represents stability, opportunity, and community for many Seminole County families.
With a total investment of $7.2 million, Legacy Square is Habitat’s largest land development project to date. Located on more than two acres at 25th Street and Grenada Avenue, the neighborhood is the culmination of years of planning after the nonprofit Habitat purchased the property in 2022 using funds from a $3.5 million grant. The community is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
“We’re the only Central Florida Habitat for Humanity affiliate that develops land,” says CEO Penny Seater. “It’s a completely different skill set than simply building a structure, but it allows us to benefit from economies of scale while creating something much bigger than individual homes.”
Unlike scattered-site construction, Legacy Square allows Habitat to build multiple homes simultaneously while fostering relationships among future homeowners long before move-in day. Families participate together in financial education classes, complete sweat equity hours on one another’s homes, and often build lasting friendships throughout the process.
“I’ve watched families create their own little community within a community,” says Penny. “They have group texts, watch each other’s children, keep an eye on one another’s homes, and support each other. That’s something we’ve lost as a society, and it’s incredibly important.”
Jackie Pacheco lives in Leadership Point, a six-home Habitat development in Sanford. When it opened in 2024, Leadership Point was the organization’s first step into community development.
“We help each other out any way we can, and our children are growing together,” says Jackie, a single mother with a 15-year-old son. “Habitat helped us get houses, but we are building a community of strong families.”
Raising Walls and Spirits
Legacy Square recently celebrated a milestone in its development with a ceremonial wall-raising event that brought together more than 200 volunteers, community leaders, donors, and future homeowners. The project is a public-private partnership, supported by government funding, corporations, churches, civic organizations, foundations, and individual donors.
When completed, Legacy Square will feature 19 energy-efficient homes of approximately 1,500 square feet, each with a garage and affordable Habitat mortgage.
One of the prospective homeowners is Phillan Cole, a second-grade teacher with Orange County Public Schools.
“I’m a single mom on a single income,” says Phillan, who has a three-year-old son, Phillip. “It’s really hard.”
Originally from Jamaica, Phillan earned undergraduate and master’s degrees before moving to Central Florida. Despite her education and career, purchasing a home through traditional means remained out of reach.
“My reason for wanting to own a home is because I’d like to have stability,” she says. “My parents owned their home, and I lived there my whole life. I saw classmates who didn’t have that stability, and I could see the difference. I want Phillip to have that same sense of security.”
Making Dreams Come True
Habitat’s program has provided more than just an affordable mortgage to many local residents. Participants complete financial education and budgeting courses while contributing sweat equity toward their future homes.
“I’ve definitely taken those lessons seriously,” says Phillan. “I’ve already been on the construction site. I’ve held a hammer drill, helped put up siding, and it’s been exciting.”
She has also been dreaming about life in her future home, including planting an organic vegetable garden with cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes, and simply enjoying everyday conveniences.
“I’m excited about having my own space and being able to do my laundry at home,” she says.
Penny says Habitat’s homeowner demographics have evolved as housing affordability has worsened. Today, many applicants are teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and bank employees – people with steady careers who simply cannot afford today’s housing market.
“Our families are working hard,” says Penny. “They’re committed to becoming homeowners, and they’re willing to do the work. Legacy Square gives them that opportunity while creating a neighborhood where people know, support, and invest in each other.”