St. Pete Housing Authority lands $1 million grant for affordable senior housing project at former Ed White Hospital site
/ED WHITE HOSPITAL AT 2323 9TH AVENUE NORTH CLOSED IN 2014. AFTER MANY OWNERS, THE ST PETE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 2021
Plans to renovate the former Ed White Hospital building in St. Petersburg into affordable housing for seniors and administrative offices for the St. Petersburg Housing Authority's (SPHA) took a step forward with the approval of a $1 million grant.
The grant, provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY), brings SPHA closer to realizing its $29 million redevelopment project.
The shuttered Ed White Hospital building at 2323 9th Avenue North is expected to be renovated into 71 apartments catering for low-income seniors. The residences will be available to seniors living at 60% or below of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Additionally, the property will host SPHA's new administrative offices and offer 1,939 square feet of leasable office space. SPHA expects the commercial space to house a medial office or another service-oriented business that may cater to the residents.
AN AERIAL RENDERING OF THE SOUTHWEST VIEW OF ST PETE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S PROPOSAL TO CONVERT THE FORMER HOSPITAL INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS | WANNEMACHER JENSEN
Last fall, the three-story, 121,000-square-foot former hospital was one of seven affordable housing projects to be funded using the City of St. Petersburg’s funding from American Rescue Plan (ARPA). St. Petersburg City Council allocated $5.9 million to the project along with $3 million in Penny for Pinellas funding.
"This location seemed an ideal place for our administrative offices, as it will bring us closer to the people we serve," said Michael Lundy, President and CEO of SPHA. "It also opens up the opportunity for us to consider future efforts in the area which includes a local park and walking trails."
The $1 million grant, part of FHLBNY's Affordable Housing Program, was secured through the sponsorship of Valley Bank, a member bank of the national network. Valley Bank's corporate social responsibility team identified and supported the application.
SPHA stands out as the sole recipient in Florida among the $42 million in subsidies allocated by FHLBNY to qualified affordable housing initiatives across nine U.S. states and territories this year.
"The success of their application was largely due to the population that will be served and SPHA's reputation as a strong provider of housing services in our community," said Rainer Pelzel, commercial relationship manager at Valley Bank.
"St. Petersburg has experienced sky-rocketing rent and home prices, and SPHA is not just helping with the affordable housing need, but also helping to make their clients financially independent through the resources they provide,” Pelzel added.
A RENDERING OF THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF ST PETE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S PROPOSAL TO CONVERT THE FORMER HOSPITAL INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS | WANNEMACHER JENSEN
Ed White Hospital, which opened in 1974 and was operated by HCA West Florida, closed in mid-2014 due to declining revenue and was sold at the end of 2015 to Michael Mincberg of Sight Real Estate for $2 million. Mincberg planned to convert the facility into an apartment building.
Mincberg’s plan never came to fruition and three years later sold the property to developer Grady Pridgen for $2.7 million. At the time, Pridgen had proposed to remodel and expand the facility, adding assisted living and memory care services, but that project never got off the ground and he ultimately sold the property to SPHA in December 2021 for $5.1 million.
The SPHA unveiled plans for the building, which were designed by St. Pete-based Wannemacher Jensen Architects, last year.
In addition to the grant from the FHLBNY and APRA and Penny for Pinellas funds from the City of St. Petersburg, the SPHA expects to secure a construction loan to finance the project.
The groundbreaking for the project is expected in the first quarter of 2024.
