The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, May 19th at 9:00 AM to hear a presentation asking them to commit a county-owned 7.39-acre parcel at 1840 25th Street to the development of affordable housing.
This taxpayer-owned property, located within the City of Vero Beach adjacent to the RM 10/12 zone, is the perfect location for affordable homes serving our working-class residents, people who earn up to 80% of the county's 2026 median income of $105,200. That includes school teachers, police officers, healthcare workers, service workers, Piper employees, county employees, and many others. In fact, an estimated 30–40% of county employees (roughly 360–490 people) earn under $50,000 a year. The county needs this housing for its own workforce.
The City is in full support of rezoning this parcel with a design that fits the old Florida character of the neighborhood. The lack of affordable housing in our county has been talked about for years, but nothing ever gets done. The Commissioners now have a real opportunity to act.
The most important thing you can do is show up. Filling the hearing room with supporters is the key to getting affordable housing approved. If you are unable to attend, please send the letter below (or your own version) to the Commissioners before May 19th.

Affordable Housing for Indian River County's Working Families

I am writing to urge you to commit the county-owned 7.39-acre parcel at 1840 25th Street to the development of affordable housing. This is an opportunity to move beyond years of discussion and take meaningful action on the affordable housing crisis facing Indian River County's working families.

This property is ideally situated within the City of Vero Beach, adjacent to the RM 10/12 zone, and the City supports rezoning it with a design that respects the old Florida character of the surrounding neighborhood. Housing developed here would serve residents earning up to 80% of our Area Median Income — the teachers, police officers, healthcare workers, service workers, Piper employees, and county employees who keep this community running.

The numbers make the case clearly. A starting teacher in our school district earns $48,000 a year. At 60% of AMI, the income threshold for a three-person household is just $55,220. With 30% of their income going towards housing, that's $1,380 per month and 2BR market rents average $2,500 in Indian River County, making it unaffordable to live in the community they serve.

The taxpayers own this land. You are its stewards. Donating this parcel to the development of affordable housing is the highest and best use of this property, and it is the right thing to do for the working people of Indian River County.

I respectfully ask you to commit this land to affordable housing at the May 19th meeting and turn years of conversation into action.