Purpose Built Communities Conference Recognizes Revitalization in Orange County
The 9th Annual Purpose Built Communities Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on International Drive, hosted more than 300 attendees from across the country to discuss the efforts and approaches to help families build a better life for themselves through education, mixed-income housing, community health and wellness and economic development.
LIFT Orlando serves as the community quarterback for the effort by guiding business leaders and residents to accelerate community transformation and partnering with public, private and non-profit sectors. The organization is working to transform the West Lakes community – a proud, but vulnerable downtown Orlando neighborhood.
LIFT Orlando’s holistic approach is inspired by the highly successful model of Purpose Built Communities. This framework of holistic community revitalization includes a cradle-to-college-to-career education pipeline, a mixed-income housing strategy and community wellness through a rich network of community and support services.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs provided welcome remarks at the conference recognizing the value of LIFT Orlando’s mission-based work, and importance of the “Purpose Built Communities” movement.
“By revitalizing, rebuilding and re-energizing communities in need, you are changing not just neighborhoods – across the nation, you are changing lives, changing futures and changing generations to come,” Mayor Jacobs said. “Through their collective impact approach and an incredibly diverse leadership team of education, housing, health and economic development workers, LIFT Orlando is addressing complex problems with sustainable solutions.”
Orange County Government’s investment into Camping World Stadium has helped generate new revenues from visitors that have been leveraged to support LIFT Orlando’s mission. Through partnerships with Florida Citrus Sports and Camping World Stadium, LIFT Orlando is committed to creating pathways of opportunity for low-income neighbors in the area surrounding Camping World Stadium.
In 2016, LIFT Orlando began work to build Pendana at West Lakes, a new multi-family, mixed-income housing complex that opened in spring 2018. The community, in collaboration with Columbia Residential, provides residents with high quality, yet affordable housing conveniently located near schools, healthcare, wellness and business opportunities. Located two blocks from Camping World Stadium, Pendana at West Lakes is the start of a bold, transformative vision for the West Lakes neighborhood.
Photo Caption: Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined leaders from LIFT Orlando at the 9th Annual Purpose Built Communities Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on International Drive on Oct. 24, 2018.