At a Glance
Pensacola needs more housing options that working families, seniors, young people, and renters can actually afford.
I am optimistic about the City’s proposed Land Development Code changes, but updating the rules is only the first step. We also need to support the people who can help make those changes real: homeowners, small contractors, local builders, responsible investors, and community-minded neighbors.
My approach is practical: support the building department, provide clearer information and better guidance, encourage restoration over unnecessary demolition, and help local people invest in affordable housing — especially in the Eastside and Westside CRA districts.
Why Affordable Housing Matters
Affordable housing is not just about housing. It is connected to homelessness, blight, workforce stability, neighborhood revitalization, and whether young people can begin building wealth in the city they call home.
When people cannot find stable housing they can afford, everything else becomes harder: keeping a job, saving money, raising a family, staying healthy, and planning for the future.
Affordable housing is also part of eliminating blight. Vacant and neglected properties drag down nearby homes and discourage investment. But when those properties are restored and occupied, they add value, improve safety, and help rebuild confidence block by block.
If young adults cannot afford to rent, buy, renovate, or invest in Pensacola, they will continue looking elsewhere. Affordable housing is one of the foundations that allows people to stay, work, save, and build wealth.
Important Details
- Pensacola is already working through proposed updates to the Land Development Code, and I am optimistic about that process.
- The City’s public engagement process found that 68% of contributors supported clear and predictable regulations for development, and 60% identified lack of affordable housing as one of Pensacola’s biggest challenges over the next decade.
- Public feedback showed support for duplexes, triplexes, starter homes, smaller homes, and contextual infill that fits neighborhood character.
- We do not have to choose between protecting neighborhood character and creating more housing opportunity.
- Many potential small-scale builders do not need special treatment. They need clarity, support, and confidence before they take the first step.
- As a licensed contractor specializing in property restoration, I have seen firsthand that many properties people describe as “blighted” are not beyond saving.
- Affordable housing does not only mean government-subsidized housing. Much of the affordable housing people rely on is older, privately owned housing that remains affordable because of its age, size, or condition.
- Affordable rentals must be part of the conversation. Not everyone is ready to buy a home, and a healthy housing market needs both affordable ownership and affordable rental options.
My Proposal
Pensacola should modernize its housing rules while also building a support system that helps good projects succeed.
This is not about lowering standards. It is about making the process understandable, efficient, and aligned with the kind of development the city says it wants.
Pensacola does not only need large developers. We need local builders, small contractors, homeowners, tradespeople, small landlords, nonprofits, and responsible investors willing to take on one property, one lot, or one building at a time.
- Support the City’s work to modernize the Land Development Code.
- Encourage housing flexibility that fits the scale and character of existing neighborhoods.
- Support restoration over unnecessary demolition.
- Treat affordable rentals as an important part of the affordable housing solution.
- Strengthen the building department so residents and small-scale developers can get clear guidance and predictable timelines.
- Focus support in areas where reinvestment can have a major neighborhood impact, especially the Eastside and Westside CRA districts.
- Create simple guides for ADUs, small infill homes, duplex conversions, restoration projects, and affordable rental opportunities.
- Help applicants understand infrastructure, stormwater, permitting, and code requirements before they spend thousands of dollars on plans.
- Connect property owners with local contractors, lenders, nonprofit partners, and technical assistance.
What Success Looks Like
Success means Pensacola has more housing options for people at different stages of life and different income levels.
For families, success means more stable housing choices close to work, school, and community.
For young people, success means a better chance to stay in Pensacola, build a career, rent affordably, and begin creating wealth.
For neighborhoods, success means more neglected properties restored, more vacant lots put back into productive use, and more investment that fits the character of the block.
For the city, success means fewer barriers for responsible small-scale projects, a stronger building department, clearer rules, and more confidence for people who want to invest here.
Affordable housing should not be treated as a burden. It is an opportunity — to reduce homelessness, eliminate blight, support young people, and build a stronger Pensacola for the next generation.