Demolition to make way for expanded Sanderlin Center in south St. Pete
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Demolition is expected to begin in October at the James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center in south St. Pete, clearing the way for a $25 million, 40,000-square-foot building designed to expand the nonprofit’s education and family-support services.
The new facility at 2335 22nd Avenue South will replace the aging, 25,000-square-foot building, which was never designed to accommodate the center’s current programs.
The organization offers pre-kindergarten, after-school tutoring, job training, weekly food distribution, and financial-literacy programs for students and their parents.
At a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Executive Director Celeste Collins said the project is personal to her. Before leading the organization, she brought her own children to the center as a parent.
“When we talk about creating a space for families, I know what we are talking about because I’ve been on the other side of the fence as a parent,” Collins said.
The existing James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center at 2335 22nd Avenue South will be demolished to make way for a new 40,000-square-foot facility | Google Maps
Over the past eight years, the center has spent more than $1 million on repairs and maintenance to keep the aging structure operational.
“Some may look at what we are building and ask if a new facility is something we want or something we need,” Collins said. “Quite frankly, we have outgrown this building. Today, we’ve had to make our programs conform to the space we have. Our boardroom is also our food pantry, which is also our community lab.”
“Our classrooms limit us to serving 77 children, and we begin each aftercare session and summer session with waiting lists,” she continued.
The first phase will centralize the center’s academic programs, social services, and nonprofit partners in a facility designed specifically for those uses. Plans include a dedicated food pantry with storage shelves and a delivery area.
The new facility is expected to increase the number of students served to at least 140 on the five-acre campus.
A groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday drew Executive Director Celeste Collins, State Rep. Fentrice Driskell, Sen. Darryl Rouson, Dr. Kanika Tomalin, and other community stakeholders | Sanderlin Center
“For too long we’ve made our mission fit into this building, and now we will have a building that fits our mission,” Collins said.
The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by 2029.
Future phases remain conceptual but could include a grocery store, expanded wellness programming, and affordable housing.
The project is being funded through leadership gifts, corporate commitments, and targeted fundraising rather than a single public grant.
Supporters include the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete, Juvenile Welfare Board, St. Petersburg Free Clinic, State Rep. Fentrice Driskell, and Sen. Darryl Rouson.
Last year, Rouson submitted a $945,000 funding request to the Florida Senate to support construction planning and early-phase work. He previously secured funding for architectural drawings.
The development team includes DuCon Construction as general contractor, Rowe Architects, which was selected through a competitive RFP process, and Cap Ex Advisory Group founder Russ Robertson, who is serving as owner’s representative.
The existing 25,000-square-foot Sanderlin Center will be demolished | St Pete Rising
The original center was founded in 1990 through a partnership between the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg and local Black community leaders. Modeled after a traditional settlement house, it brought childcare, job training, education, and social services together under one roof.
Then known as the Black Family Service Center, the organization initially leased the facility from the Diocese for $1 per year, despite the renovations required to make the building functional.
The center was later renamed to honor Judge James B. Sanderlin, one of only five Black attorneys practicing in St. Petersburg in the 1960s. Sanderlin devoted his career to advancing social and legal equality in the city.
In 2000, the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg effectively gave the property to the Family Services Center, selling it for $200,000 while providing $20,000 annual grants for 10 years to cover the mortgage.
Today, the campus houses about 15 nonprofit tenants, including United Medical Academy, Mindful Movement Florida, Dress for Success, Youth Unleashed, Life From Inside Out, and Lakewood Community Schools’ adult education program.
“Our work is just beginning,” said Dr. Kanika Tomalin, president of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, a longtime supporter of the center’s literacy and school-readiness program. “The hard work starts when we bring the vision to life with everything behind it.”
