St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has selected affordable housing developer Habitat for Humanity to develop two properties on 18th Avenue South in south St. Pete.

Earlier this year Habitat for Humanity submitted an offer to develop a 44-unit affordable townhome project named Pelican Place on a 2.1-acre city-owned lot across from Tangerine Plaza on the southwest corner of 18th Avenue South and 21st Street. The proposal was one of several that were received for the site.

“After reviewing all proposals for these sites, Habitat for Humanity offered an innovative opportunity for homeownership, made affordable by their zero-percent interest mortgage program,” said Mayor Ken Welch. “This is a life-changing opportunity for homeownership and wealth-building for residents within the Southside Community Redevelopment Area. The monthly mortgage payment is truly affordable, and Habitat for Humanity is also a trusted organization in the community who we believe will deliver a quality project.”

Pelican Place will feature 44 three-story townhomes ranging between 1,000 and 1,300 square feet. Habitat plans to include two-, three-, and four-bedroom floor plans. Preliminarily, the new development will include 9 two-bedroom units, 9 four-bedroom units, and 26 three-bedroom units.

“Every day, affordable homeownership becomes further and further out of reach for local families. The long-term residents of St. Petersburg are being priced out of their own community,” says CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties Mike Sutton previously told St. Pete Rising. “We feel Pelican Place is one solution to the crisis; providing 44 affordable townhomes which will allow these deserving families the opportunity to build intergenerational wealth.”

Every home would be EnergyStar certified which includes insulated exterior doors, Low-E double panel windows, HVAC systems with programable thermostats, and concrete exterior walls, among other features. Finishes would include hardwood cabinets, carpet and tile floor, Whirlpool appliances and pre-wiring for cable and phone.

Each townhome in the community would include a private garage with 10 additional guest parking spaces for a total of 86 spaces. The conceptual site plan features entrances along 21st Street South and Union Street South. A bus stop, shelter, and a bike rack would be located along 18th Avenue South.

Habitat for Humanity was also selected to develop a smaller townhome project a few blocks east of the proposed Pelican Place site at 18th Avenue South and 18th Street South. The second project, named The Grove, would contain either 10 or 12 units.

Similar to Pelican Place, the three-story townhomes would contain around 1,224 square feet of livable space and include a garage as well as laundry/storage room. A total of two parking spaces per unit would be provided.

All units will be reserved for individuals and households earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

Total development costs for Pelican Place are $13.5 million and between $2.9 million and $3.4 million for The Grove, depending on the number of units developed.

To subsidize the price of the units, the City of St. Petersburg is contributing $750,000 in public funding for Pelican Place ($16,500 per unit), which will be on top of a proposed $1.0 million in Penny for Pinellas affordable housing funding. For The Grove, the city will donate the land and provide $640,000 ($64,000 per unit) in public funding if the project includes 10 units; or $705,000 ($58,750 per unit) if it includes 12 units. 

The proposed affordability period for both projects will be for at least 10 years, but the city is seeking a longer affordability period as part of its negotiations.  

Habitat expects to begin construction on the projects in early 2023 with phased completion dates ranging from late 2023 to mid-2025.

Before construction can begin a Development Agreement will need to be approved by City Council.