Pinellas County approves over $5 million for 1,000-unit apartment community in west St. Pete
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A 1,000-unit apartment community proposed for west St. Pete is one step closer to reality after Pinellas County approved funding for the construction of the project, which will contain 300 units for workforce housing.
On January 14th, Pinellas County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved $5.25 million for the construction of the first phase of Azalea Gateway, set to rise at 1501 72nd Street North near Azalea Park.
The approved county funds are contingent upon the City of St. Pete approving an additional $6 million for phase one construction. St Pete City Council is expected to vote on the funding request in February.
The first phase of the project, estimated to cost $110 million, consists of 340 apartments with 51 units set aside for households earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and 51 units reserved for households earning up to 120% of AMI. The units are required to remain affordable for at least 50 years.
the 29-acre site | google earth
In total, Azalea Gateway will contain 1,000 apartments, including 300 affordable apartments, across three phases of development, making the project among the largest public-private housing projects in the history of St. Petersburg.
The project will also contain 1,800 parking spaces across all three phases.
Property owner Porter Development, headed by Les Porter, has partnered with Boca Raton-based Falcone Group and Tampa-based Metro Development Group to assist with the development of the new apartment complex.
The first phase of Azalea Gateway will consist of two U-shaped buildings and a single L-shaped building. Residential amenities include a clubhouse, a leasing office, fitness center, yoga room, game room, pool, and pet spa.
The second phase will be identical to the first phase with a green park space between the two L-shaped buildings.
Site plan of Azalea Gateway | ARC3 Architecture
While there isn't a set construction commencement date, each phase will take approximately two years to complete. The entire project is expected to wrap up in 2030.
St. Pete-based ARC3 Architecture, Clearwater-based Gulf Coast Consulting, and global engineering firm Stantec are on the development team.
Porter Development, which purchased the site in 2021 for $10.5 million, initially planned to build a 150,000-square-foot sports complex alongside a recreational lagoon. Porter ultimately withdrew plans after receiving opposition from neighbors and Forward Pinellas denying approval of the sports center.
The property has been subject to controversy over the years due to the site’s environmental issues.
Defense contractor Raytheon, who previously owned the land, incurred contamination from manufacturing operations dating back to the 1950s. The property’s soil contamination has been addressed however groundwater remediation at the site has been ongoing since 2014.
An aerial of Azalea Gateway | ARC3 Architecture
