New Affordable Apartments Coming to Downtown DeLand in 2027

The 84-unit New York Avenue Apartments will serve workers and those transitioning out of homelessness.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:07am

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A brightly colored, abstract grid of stylized apartment building facades in warm shades of orange, yellow, and red, conceptually representing an affordable housing development in an urban setting.A new affordable housing development in downtown DeLand aims to provide quality, centrally-located homes for low-income workers and those transitioning out of homelessness.DeLand Today

Officials in DeLand, Florida broke ground on March 31 for an 84-unit affordable apartment development called the New York Avenue Apartments. The apartments, located in downtown DeLand across from City Hall, will offer rents ranging from $400 to $1,000 per month based on income levels. The development will also set aside 13 units for people transitioning out of homelessness through a partnership with the local Neighborhood Center of West Volusia.

Why it matters

The New York Avenue Apartments project aims to address the shortage of affordable housing options in the DeLand area, particularly for low-income workers and those exiting homelessness. By locating the development in the downtown core near services, jobs, and education, it provides residents with better access to resources and opportunities to improve their financial situations.

The details

The 84-unit apartment complex will be built on the former site of the Hotel Putnam in downtown DeLand. Rents will be restricted based on income levels, with units available for around $400 to $1,000 per month. Residents will be able to apply to live at the apartments starting in the fall of 2026, with move-in dates expected in spring 2027. The development is a partnership between the City of DeLand, Volusia County, and nonprofit housing developer Blue Sky Communities. Volusia County provided around $5.3 million in funding from state, federal, and local sources, including the county's Transform386 initiative to help recover from recent hurricanes.

  • Officials broke ground on the New York Avenue Apartments on March 31, 2026.
  • Residents will be able to apply to live at the apartments starting in the fall of 2026.
  • Move-in dates for the new apartments are expected to begin in the spring of 2027.

The players

Jake Johansson

At-large representative on the Volusia County Council.

Shawn Wilson

President of developer Blue Sky Communities.

Savannah-Jane Griffin

CEO of The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia, a homelessness services nonprofit.

The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia

A homelessness services nonprofit in DeLand that will partner with the New York Avenue Apartments to provide 13 units for people transitioning out of homelessness.

Volusia County

The county government that provided around $5.3 million in funding for the New York Avenue Apartments project from state, federal, and local sources, including the county's Transform386 initiative.

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What they’re saying

“It's projects like this that really, really make a difference to working people.”

— Jake Johansson, At-large representative on the Volusia County Council

“Rather than just plopping some garden-style development far away from everything, we're talking about urban infill development that's close to services, close to employment, close to education, and is going to provide a real opportunity for people to actually save money and not have to spend all their disposable income on a car.”

— Shawn Wilson, President of developer Blue Sky Communities

“That means fewer nights spent worrying about where to sleep and more opportunities to focus on health, employment and building a future. This is what it looks like when a community comes together to solve challenges in a meaningful and lasting way.”

— Savannah-Jane Griffin, CEO of The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia

What’s next

Residents will be able to apply to live at the New York Avenue Apartments starting in the fall of 2026, with move-in dates expected to begin in the spring of 2027.

The takeaway

The New York Avenue Apartments project in downtown DeLand represents a collaborative effort between the city, county, and nonprofit organizations to address the need for more affordable housing options, particularly for low-income workers and those transitioning out of homelessness. By locating the development in the city center, it provides residents with better access to jobs, services, and resources to improve their economic situations.