Historic Orlando hospital site could become affordable housing, health care hub

A historic Orlando site that once housed the city’s first hospital dedicated to serving Black residents could soon become a hub for affordable housing and health care.The Orlando Housing Authority purchased the 5.3-acre site from Guardian Care on John Young Parkway for about $2.75 million.The authority is now exploring plans to redevelop the property, with a preliminary proposal calling for 106 to 120 affordable housing units, along with space for health care services and community amenities.The site once housed Dr. P. Phillips Memorial Hospital, which provided critical medical care to Black residents during segregation, when access to health care was limited.Eloise Abrahams, who is associated with Guardian Care Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, recalled the barriers Black patients faced during that era.“At that time it was a deep heart of segregation and black people could only receive acute care services in what is now the basement of Arlington Health,” Abrahams said. “Can you