Scarce land leads to new Habitat for Humanity strategy

Broward is just about out of land suitable for residential development, experts say.

As the number of available lots in Broward County shrinks, Habitat for Humanity is struggling to build charitable homes. The Broward chapter of the international nonprofit, which builds single-family homes for needy families, simply can’t find enough property. 

So it’s embracing a new strategy, according to the Sun-Sentinel, building townhomes and duplexes.

Habitat recently finsihed an eight-unit duplex in Miramar. And elsewhere, seven townhomes are under construction in Hallandale Beach and 10 in Oakland Park.

“We’re not going to totally abandon building single-family homes, but when the opportunity presents itself to build townhomes or duplexes, we will take advantage of it,” Perry Ecton, executive director of Habitat in Broward, told the newspaper.

On an acre of land, the nonprofit can build 10 townhome units, compared with four single-family homes, Ecton added, noting that each townhome costs an average of $65,000 versus $90,000 for a single-family home.

“Broward is just about out of land suitable for residential development,” said Brad Hunter, chief economist for the Metrostudy research firm. “It’s absolutely one of the most land-constricted counties in the entire country.” [Sun-Sentinel] – Christopher Cameron