City moves forward with affordable housing and retail development on 22nd Street South
/a rendering of heritage oaks, a proposed 54-unit affordable apartment complex at 951 22nd Street South | green mills group
Mayor Ken Welch has selected Green Mills Group, a South Florida-based affordable housing developer, to redevelop a historically significant city-owned property at 951 22nd Street South.
The selection follows a Request for Proposals (RFP) process that launched in August 2024, which drew three submissions from Green Mills Group, Tall Cotton, and Alexander Goshen/Goode Van Slyke Architecture.
Under Green Mills’ proposal, the vacant 0.68-acre site would be transformed into a $20 million mixed-use development, called Heritage Grove, featuring 54 affordable apartments and 2,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
City Council is expected to vote on a negotiated ground lease and development agreement next Thursday, October 16th.
The site IS LOCATED at 951 22nd Street South | Google EARTH
A restrictive covenant will ensure that the apartments remain affordable for at least 99 years.
Under the proposed agreement, Green Mills Group would lease the city-owned property for $100 per year over the 99-year affordability period.
After 99 years, the developer may owe an additional $885,000 lease payment, the appraised market value of the site as of March 2024, though the city has the right to forgive the payment entirely.
The agreement outlines a timeline of milestones, including site plan approval within six months of the signed agreement, submission of the building permit package within two years, securing financing and commencing construction within three years, and obtaining certificates of occupancy within five years.
The new four-story building would feature a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments reserved for households across a range of income levels.
Nine units would be designated for those earning 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or below, 30 units for those earning 60% of AMI or below, three units for those earning 70% of AMI or below, and 12 units for those earning 80% of AMI or below.
Residents would have access to a community clubhouse, game room, business center, and on-site parking.
Green Mills Group plans to partner with The Greenhouse, to ensure that the project’s 2,500 square feet of commercial space is leased to minority-owned businesses.
The property was previously home to The merriwether building, which collapsed during hurricane irma in 2017 | Google EARTH
The site holds deep cultural significance for south St. Pete.
It was once home to the 1925-built Merriwether Building, which supported African American and Jewish entrepreneurs during an era of segregation and social barriers.
The structure collapsed in 2017 after sustaining damage from Hurricane Irma, leaving behind a vacant lot in The Deuces, a historic stretch of 22nd Street South that was once the heart of St. Pete’s African American community.
The developer plans to honor the corridor’s legacy through intentional design and public art.
The proposal calls for a mural by a local artist depicting the district’s African American heritage, along with architectural elements inspired by African textiles and historical photography displayed throughout the building’s common areas.
Green Mills will collaborate with Forum Architecture & Interior Design of Altamonte Springs to lead the design, Hamilton Engineering & Surveying of Tampa for civil and site work, and its in-house general contractor Harry W. Smith to oversee construction.
Green Mills Group previously developed Burlington Post and Burlington Place, two affordable housing communities near Historic Kenwood.
