property
Land Release: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
City of Tallahassee opens 120 acres of public parcels for private development starting this month.
How we reported this
The City of Tallahassee released 120 acres of city-owned land for residential and mixed-use projects on July 8, with applications now open through the Leon County Property Appraiser portal.
Housing production has lagged behind population growth here for several years, pushing median sale prices above $285,000 in June and leaving fewer than 1,200 homes listed for sale countywide. Local officials say the new parcels aim to add units faster than private market supply alone can deliver.
Two sites sit along Capital Circle Northwest near the intersection with Tennessee Street, while another cluster borders the Bond neighborhood south of Florida A&M University. The city coordinated the release with the Leon County Planning Department and the Southwood Community Development District to align infrastructure upgrades already budgeted for those corridors.
Eligibility rules
Only Florida-registered developers or nonprofit housing groups may submit proposals. Each application must reserve at least 20 percent of units for households earning 80 percent or less of area median income and commit to completing construction within 36 months of permit issuance. Joint ventures with local minority-owned firms receive a scoring bonus of up to 15 points.
Application steps
Interested parties download forms from the city’s planning website, attach site plans and financing letters, then file electronically by 5 p.m. on August 15. Staff will score submissions and forward the top three per parcel to the City Commission for final selection at its September 10 meeting. A $2,500 non-refundable deposit is required at filing, credited against the eventual land purchase price if selected.
City records show 87 developers requested pre-application packets in the first 24 hours after the announcement. Staff expect to award rights to at least four parcels before year-end, adding roughly 650 housing units if all selected projects move forward on schedule.
Developers seeking guidance can attend the next virtual information session hosted by the Planning Department on July 16 at 10 a.m. or contact the land disposition coordinator at 850-891-8600 for parcel maps and utility data.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.