Hillsborough County schools look to create affordable housing options for employees
Tampa Bay Times | By: Divya Kumar | July 22, 2026
The big story: After years of talking about affordable housing solutions, Hillsborough County public schools is looking to start offering affordable workforce housing to its employees.
One possible site the district has identified is near the former McLane Middle School in Brandon, which closed in 2024, but the district still owns adjacent land.
The proposed model would work as a partnership with the district keeping ownership of the land, but leasing the site to a private or nonprofit developer for a 50- or 99-year contract, deputy superintendent of operations Chris Farkas told board members at a workshop Tuesday. The district would not act as a landlord or property manager.
The district expects around 150 units at that site for employees, including teachers, bus drivers, custodians and student nutrition employees. Farkas said the lowest-paid employees in the district often qualify for additional federal benefits and the highest paid ones often don’t need assistance, but the “missing middle” who are often working second jobs are the ones struggling the most. Florida ranks 50th out of all states in teacher pay.
“This is not about Hillsborough County Public Schools becoming a housing developer,” Farkas said. “That’s not what we do. It’s much more about how affordable housing affects the district’s ability to recruit and retain.”
Farkas said he hopes to bring a lease to the school board by fall and board members will have the opportunity to determine terms of the contract.
“One of the big things is we will make sure that it’s in perpetuity, meaning that (the developer) can’t change their mind once they do this and make it for rich people and things like that,” he said.
McLane is expected to be a pilot and Farkas said the district would begin seeking funding for the project, including from state and federal sources.
“I think this is a huge need,” board member Patti Rendon said. “Workforce housing is critical to our community, as the cost of living rises in Hillsborough County tremendously.”
