Deuces Rising townhomes, a new 24-unit affordable housing development, nears completion
/The deuces rising townhomes at 6th and 7th avenue south along 22nd Street | st. pete rising
A long-delayed project that will deliver 24 affordable homes for working families is nearing completion and preparing to welcome its first residents.
The bright white-and-blue, two-story townhomes line 6th and 7th avenues South near 22nd Street South, directly across from the Manhattan Casino.
The City of St. Petersburg purchased the land in 2007 for $2.2 million using a federal grant. However, the project was not announced until 2019 under former Mayor Rick Kriseman as part of the broader Deuces Rising initiative, which aims to revitalize the Deuces, the historic African American entertainment and business district along the 22nd Street South corridor.
Built by Tampa-based Horus Construction Services, the development includes twelve 1,780-square-foot townhomes with three bedrooms and twelve 1,525-square-foot townhomes with two bedrooms.
The 24 townhomes will range from two- to three-bedroom units | st. pete rising
Each home will be offered for sale and include two parking spaces and front and rear yards.
Maurice “Mo” Franklin of Franklin & Associates Realty will market the homes to first-time homebuyers.
Twelve homes will be reserved for households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), equivalent to an annual income of up to $82,600 for a three-person household.
The remaining 12 homes will be available to households earning 120% or less of the AMI, equivalent to an annual income of up to $123,840 for a three-person household, as defined by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program.
Down payment assistance will be available, and the homes will carry a minimum 30-year affordability period. Future resales will be subject to affordability restrictions, an equity-sharing plan, or both.
Councilman corey givens (LEft) touring the townhomes earlier this month | corey givens
Franklin is awaiting approval of a sales agreement with the city and final pricing for the townhomes, both of which will require City Council approval.
Because the development sits on city-owned land, the city issued a notice of intent to sell the property as required by its standard procedures, although the homes will be sold directly to residents rather than to a developer.
Pricing is still being determined and will account for several factors, including current housing prices, interest rates, insurance costs, and homeowners association fees, Franklin told St. Pete Rising.
In the meantime, interested residents can sign up online for updates and join the waiting list.
To qualify, buyers must not have owned property within the past three years. Priority will be given to residents of the South St. Pete Community Redevelopment Area.
Pinellas County Urban League proposed the Sankofa Empowerment Center, a two-story, 28,000-square-foot mixed-use building in South St. Pete | PCUL
The original vision for the 2.7-acre site included a commercial park and residential development led by the Sankofa Vision Group. However, rising construction costs and delays related to soil contamination remediation stalled the project in 2023.
The city administration ultimately paused the commercial component to prioritize construction of the townhomes.
In January 2024, City Council approved a $19 million contribution to the project, including a $6 million loan from the city’s Economic Stability Fund. Proceeds from the sale of the townhomes will be used to repay the loan.
The Deuces Rising townhomes are among several developments proposed or taking shape in the surrounding area.
An overview of the Deuces Townhomes and adjacent redevelopment proposals | St. Pete Rising
In March, the Pinellas County Urban League submitted an unsolicited proposal to the city for a two-story, 28,000-square-foot mixed-use building called the Sankofa Empowerment Center between 6th Avenue South and Fairfield Avenue South.
The Pinellas County Urban League would serve as the building’s anchor tenant and operator. The remaining space would include a mix of offices, retail, food service, and co-working space, along with an incubator-style environment designed to support small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Because the proposal involved the development of city-owned land, St. Petersburg issued a request for proposals (RFP), allowing other developers to submit competing bids.
However, no other proposals were submitted, and the city has not yet moved forward with the Urban League’s plan.
St. Pete-based HP Capital Group has proposed a large mixed-use development centered on job creation and economic activity | HP Capital Group
Just south of the Deuces Townhomes, another development is being considered for city-owned land. In April, St. Petersburg issued an RFP for a three-acre site adjacent to I-275 known as Commerce Park.
The RFP called for a mixed-use development with ground-floor commercial space, new housing, and a design that activates 22nd Street South while reflecting the area’s cultural history.
Seven development teams submitted proposals, with concepts ranging from mixed-income apartments and retail space to hotels.
After a preliminary review, city administration selected the Magellan Housing proposal.
The plan includes a total of 126 residential units, with affordability levels ranging from 30% to 80% of area median income. The proposal also includes six for-sale townhomes, intended to provide a path to homeownership for moderate-income households.
The city must negotiate a term sheet with Magellan Housing and bring it to City Council for review prior to the project moving forward.
