DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach commissioners on Wednesday are expected to vote on a proposal for a new affordable workforce housing linkage fee that would require future developers to contribute funds toward building and maintaining residential units. 

The proposed fee aims to address the city’s growing affordable housing crisis by placing the money into a trust fund designated for new housing projects.

Real estate agent Jackie Mole, who co-chairs F.A.I.T.H. (Fighting Against Injustice Towards Harmony), has been advocating for affordable housing solutions for more than five years. He said he believes that without financial incentives, developers tend to prioritize luxury housing over affordable units.

“The difference is when you build luxury housing, you have that margin where you charge and price, and affordable housing developers don’t have the same source,” Mole said. “So therefore, they don’t build affordable housing. They build luxury housing so they can make the profit.”

The proposed linkage fee would vary based on the type and size of a development. City officials recommend that commercial projects pay $1.82 per square foot, equating to $1,820 for a 1,000-square-foot development.

Mole said he does not believe the additional cost would deter developers from investing in Daytona Beach, arguing that they should contribute to the housing solutions needed for the workforce they employ.

“I believe they are partly responsible because when they build buildings and bring in jobs, they hire people, and there’s no place for them to live that they can afford at the rate they are being paid,” he said.

Affordable housing developers may be exempt from the payment if they provide enough designated affordable housing units to offset the linkage fee amount.

Mole said that residential development should not be charged at all, as it directly contributes to increasing housing supply.

Daytona Beach resident Pattie Ingerteo said she supports efforts to make housing more accessible for the local workforce.

“People want to live, work here, be a community here, and be able to afford to do so,” Ingerteo said. “The stress right now is very high because there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for what rents are being charged.”

Other municipalities, including Winter Park, have already implemented linkage fees to support affordable housing.