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Lowndes Advises Wendover Housing Partners on Permanent Supportive Housing Community

July 14, 2020

Lowndes advised Wendover Housing Partners in the development of Warley Park, an 81-unit permanent supportive housing community for the homeless in Central Florida. Located in Sanford, Fla., the $19 million project consists of two buildings with one- to three-bedroom apartments, as well as a multipurpose clubhouse, computer labs, activity rooms and meeting rooms.

As a permanent support housing community, on-site services such as health care, vocational training, GED classes and life-skills classes will be offered.  

According to a company release, financing for the project included funds from Florida Housing Finance Corp., which were provided through the 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), a State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) loan and a National Housing Trust Fund grant.

The Lowndes team included attorneys Rebecca Rhoden (affordable housing) and Rebecca Wilson (land use and zoning).

About Lowndes
Founded in Orlando, Florida in 1969, Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A., is a multi-discipline business law firm. Our attorneys represent corporate, entrepreneurial and individual clients across a myriad of industries locally, nationally and beyond our borders, from offices in Orlando, Mount Dora and Melbourne, and through Meritas, an established global alliance of independent law firms offering local insight, local rates and world-class client service. LOCAL ROOTS. BROAD REACH.℠ 



Rebecca

Rebecca Rhoden focuses on commercial litigation, land use litigation, litigation relating to the Fair Housing Act, eDiscovery, appellate law and family and marital law.


In her practice, Rebecca routinely represents private and public clients in matters including commercial, land use, trade secrets, employment, breach of contract, commerce clause, and divorce and prenuptial agreement disputes, among others.

Rebecca has provided developers and clients with legal counsel and representation in Section 70.51 mediations. Her experience in land use and environmental dispute resolutions offers a unique benefit to clients navigating the alternative dispute resolution process following denial of a development order, zoning approval and other land use matters around the state.

Prior to joining Lowndes, Rebecca practiced in New York City with a large international firm, primarily in the area of securities litigation.

Rebecca

Becky  Wilson is chair of the firm's Land Use, Zoning and Environmental Group. She represents property owners, developers, lenders and other development participants with issues related to zoning, comprehensive plans, concurrency, administrative law, Developments of Regional Impact (DRI’s), procurement issues, due diligence and property rights.


As early as sixth grade, Becky advocated for the causes she believed in. Her concern about nuclear waste and water contamination in her hometown of Dothan, Alabama – and her thorough research – promoted her to press a state legislator with questions in the school auditorium. Having grown up in the South, Becky got in trouble for questioning authority – yet that life experience served her well.

After clerking for a federal judge in Washington, D.C., Becky landed in Orlando, quickly building a reputation at Lowndes for being thorough, outspoken, and a tireless advocate for clients. She ultimately found her niche in land use, collaborating with architects, transportation engineers and local governments to move her clients’ projects – and Central Florida – forward. Becky became one of the youngest female shareholders at the firm. Today, she is Chair of the Land Use, Zoning and Environmental Group.

Her clients include property owners, developers, lenders and other participants in the development of high-rise, hotels, planned communities, large “power-centers,” mixed-use projects, office buildings and big box commercial projects, projects within historic districts, multi-family developments, senior living, and affordable housing. Becky works closely with the local government entities to address the needs of her clients related to zoning, comprehensive plans, concurrency, administrative lawDevelopments of Regional Impact (DRI’s), procurement issues, due diligence, and property rights.

Undoubtedly, Becky’s diligence, activism and Southern charm were responsible in part for her appointment as chair of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Central Florida District Council, a global multidisciplinary real estate organization with more than 40,000 members dedicated to the responsible use of land, and creating and sustaining thriving communities.

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