A South Florida nonprofit wants to buy and renovate the La Quinta Inn on University Drive in Coral Springs, north of Sample Road, and convert the hotel into apartments for veterans. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation made the offer, and the sale is not yet final.
The city of Coral Springs plans to finish vetting the proposal in November and December. If approved, the proposed studio and one-bedroom units would rent for between $1,000 and $1,200 a month, with all utilities included.
Veterans would need an honorable discharge and must agree to a background check to qualify. The project is aimed at service members coming home and former troops on limited incomes, groups that have struggled as rents continue to rise across the region.
Bob Lavoie, a Vietnam veteran who served as an Army specialist, said affordability is a constant topic among veterans he knows. He cited one veteran paying $1,800 for a single room.
Community support is also building. Kerri Gordon of Mission BBQ is selling promotional cups to raise money for the foundation. Gordon said the units could serve as permanent housing or as a stepping stone.
