A rendering of Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary | pi architects

Vacant land next to Palm Lake Christian Church in St. Pete’s Disston Heights neighborhood will be developed into an 86-unit affordable housing community restricted to low-income households.

Tampa-based Newstar Development recently announced the full execution of a land lease agreement between the church, the Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA), and Newstar itself.

Construction also recently commenced on the project, known as Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary, or PLUS, located at 5401 22nd Avenue North.

The development will include a four-story building with 86 units, all reserved for households earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI).

Specifically, the breakdown includes 13 units reserved for households earning 30% AMI, 14 units for 50% AMI, 42 units for 60% AMI, and 17 units for 80% AMI.

Palm Lake Christian Church first began exploring ways to use its land to help address the affordable housing shortage in 2020 | Google Maps

While the church property is zoned Neighborhood Suburban, which typically only permits single-family homes, the developer was able to proceed thanks to newly passed state legislation.

The site plan was approved under a City of St. Petersburg ordinance pursuant to House Bill 1339, which passed in 2020, allowing local government to approve the development of affordable housing on any parcel zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use.

Years later, related bill, Senate Bill 1730, passed, authorizing the board of county commissioners and the governing board of a municipality to approve the development of affordable housing on any parcel owned by religious institutions.

The new law is aimed at tackling the state’s worsening affordable housing crisis.

PLUS is the first sustainable affordable housing development in Florida to be filed under this law.

The building is being constructed to meet LEED energy-efficiency standards and will include amenities such as native Florida landscaping, over 60 paved parking spaces, charging stations for electric vehicles, and bicycle parking.

“This project aligns deeply with our core values of innovation, accountability, and integrity,” Neil Brickfield, Pinellas County Housing Authority, said in a statement. “We are proud to support a development that’s not only affordable but transformational for the people it serves.”

The development is backed by a $23,482,000 loan from Bank of America, which is also providing a low-income housing tax equity of $22 million, and $1,544,057 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds contributed by the City of St. Petersburg.

An aerial of the palm lake christian church at 5401 22nd avenue north | Google earth

“Affordable housing isn’t just a talking point - it’s a commitment,” St. Pete City Council Chair Copley Gerdes said in a statement. “With the city’s support of these 86 workforce housing units, we’re putting our money where our mouth is and investing in a stronger, more vibrant community.”

The development team also includes Texas-based PI Architects, Tampa Civil Design, and Fort Myers-based general contractor Brooks & Freund.

Brooksville-based OutsideIn Architecture LLC, the original designer of the project, has been involved since 2020, when the church first began exploring ways to use its land to help address the affordable housing shortage.

In 2022, representatives from the church met with members of the Disston Heights Neighborhood Association to discuss the project and gather input from residents. The plan was approved by the City of St. Petersburg in 2023.

A rendering of Palm Lake Christian Church on the west side of the property and the proposed affordable housing building on the east side | PI Architects

An earlier version of the project envisioned a 72-unit building on the west side of the property, along with seven one-story villas on the southeast corner, each containing two three-bedroom residences.

That portion of the site will now instead feature a large retention pond, a wraparound walking trail, and three play areas for children, according to Pastor Oscar Banks of Palm Lake Christian Church.

Pastor Banks said the church intends to play an active role in supporting future residents, describing its involvement as a “conduit of love.”

He noted that the church will offer on-site services such as educational programs and mental health counseling as part of its commitment to community care.

An estimated completion date for Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary has not yet been announced.