St. Pete City Council approves 86-unit affordable housing project in Disston Heights
/A rendering of the proposed development | OUTSIDEIn Architecture, LLC
Last week, after hours of public comment from local residents, many of whom were opposed to the project, St. Petersburg’s City Council approved a site plan review application for an 86-unit affordable housing development on 22nd Avenue North.
City Council was tasked with looking at the merits of the project, which satisfied all the city’s requirements.
City staff recommended approving the development and City Council’s vote was unanimous.
The development will be built on land owned by Palm Lake Christian Church at 5401 22nd Avenue North.
AN AERIAL OF THE PALM LAKE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT 5401 22ND AVENUE NORTH | GOOGLE EARTH
The 86 residential units will be built to LEED energy-efficiency standards, and the development’s amenities would include a community garden, electric vehicle charging stations, native landscaping, and 63 paved vehicular parking spaces, and 8 bicycle parking spaces.
The project consists of a three-story, concrete-and-block building that would contain 66 one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom units, as well as seven one-story, free-standing villas with a mix of one and two-bedroom units.
In addition to restricting 72 units for families making 60% AMI and below and 14 units for those making 120% AMI and below, 50-80% of the units will be set aside for residents who are permanently disabled. At least 20% of the units will be set aside for families who would otherwise be homeless.
A rendering of the proposed development | OUTSIDEIn Architecture, LLC
The development is the second affordable housing project to be approved through the city’s expedited approval process for affordable housing developments, which is allowed under House Bill 1139 that was approved by the Florida Legislature in 2020.
In 2021, St. Petersburg became the first city in Florida to pass an ordinance establishing a process for House Bill 1339 to take effect. The first development to utilize the process was the proposed Fairfield Apartment development which was approved last year.
The Palm Lake Christian Church development is estimated to cost $27.25 million and the developers intend to utilize the low-income housing tax credit program or other programs to fund the project.
A RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED three-story building that would contain 66 one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom units | OUTSIDEIn Architecture, LLC
