Senator who championed Live Local Act says local governments must embrace it to work
She saw it as a way to provide much-needed workforce housing across the state, including in her own backyard of Naples, where there has long been a critical shortage of it.
"There had been study, after study, after study. Everybody gave it lip service. But nobody wanted to do anything about it," Passidomo said.
There had been a strong "not-in-my-backyard" attitude, when it came to affordable and workforce housing.
Since its adoption in 2023, Live Local has attacked the shortage on many fronts.
"It's tax credits. It's things like density bonuses, making smaller units. And also, trying to cut through the red tape that often happens with government, to expedite some of these projects," Passidomo said.
When reflecting on Live Local's success so far, she said: "It is working in many, many places. And it's all about leadership on a local level.'
SPECIAL REPORT: Florida's Live Local Act wanted to spur affordable housing, but has it?
The Republican senator has represented the 28th district, which includes Collier, Hendry and part of Lee County in Southwest Florida, since 2016. The region has some of the highest housing prices and rents in the state.
Around the state, some cities, counties and towns have been more willing than others to accept or adopt the new Live Local rules, with some finding unexpected ways around them.
"The local governments that recognized the need were welcoming the bill. And developers in those communities were being very successful," Passidomo said.
In response to critics, who see the state law as an attack on home rule, she said: "The bill I don't believe was draconian or overreaching on the state's part."
More: Q&A on Florida's affordable-housing Live Local Act: What is it and why is it controversial?
She acknowledged some local governments, even in her own district, have found a way to "put the brakes on Live Local," by "opting out" of issuing property tax exemptions, based on certain criteria, which she isn't happy about.
One of the proposed Live Local projects she's most proud of is in her own district. It would replace the defunct Sanibel Outlets, near the causeway to Sanibel Island, in Lee County, with a mixed-use development that would include workforce housing.
"The people who work on Sanibel just have a quick shot over the bridge to get to work," Passidomo said. "That's an example of a good public-private type partnership."
She sees the opportunity for more conversions like that one, with the help of Live Local, in Southwest Florida, and elsewhere in the state.
"We have shopping centers that are virtually empty, so my thought is those are commercial properties that could be redeveloped into residential apartments," including workforce housing, Passidomo said. "So you could live where you work," she said.
There are still misperceptions about the types of people who can benefit from Live Local, which include the "missing middle," who could be making $75,000 to $85,000 a year, Passidomo said. She pointed out that could include a starting attorney, or a myriad of city, county or state workers.
"A lot of it is education and getting our local governments to understand and appreciate that the people who work for us, and with us, the bank tellers, the people who manage the grocery store, who work in retail, they have no place to live," Passidomo said.
She continued: "And they have to drive hours and hours sometimes to get to work, which clogs our roads and creates all sorts of problems.'
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She hopes there will be more improvements to the Live Local Act, making it more effective and attractive to developers, through more amendments.
"When I envisioned this bill, I naively thought that the local governments would embrace the concept and be thrilled about it," Passidomo said. "I never thought for a minute they would say, 'We don't want these people living here.' Because these people are the people that we work with every day."
RELATED: DeSantis signs 'Live Local Act' in Naples
Live Local will sunset in 2033, giving the Legislature a chance to automatically revisit it after 10 years, and to consider its renewal.
While it may not be perfect, it is helping to move the needle, Passidomo said.
"I have heard from a lot of people who do this as a business — that build workforce housing — that this has been transformative," Passidomo said. "So, all in all, I think it's successful and it will be for some time."
Laura Layden is a senior reporter focusing on business and government for the Naples Daily News.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Senator Kathleen Passidomo says Florida's Live Local Act has big upside
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