St. Pete recommends $40.85 million in disaster-recovery funding for six affordable housing projects
/The Hartford Apartments is one of six projects recommended to receive funding from the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program | Place Architecture
St. Petersburg has recommended six affordable housing projects for a combined $40.85 million in federal disaster-recovery funding, a major investment that would add or preserve 645 affordable apartments across the city.
The recommendations follow a competitive Request for Applications process through the city’s Affordable Rental Housing Program.
City Council is expected to finalize the awards on September 17th.
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program.
Congress appropriated the funding following Hurricanes Idalia in 2023 and Helene in 2024, and HUD awarded St. Petersburg $159.884 million directly for long-term recovery work.
HUD designated the entire city as a Most Impacted and Distressed area, allowing St. Pete to use the funding for housing, infrastructure, economic revitalization and mitigation connected to the storms.
The six affordable housing developments that have been recommended to receive funding | Google Maps
Of the city’s total allocation, $48 million was set aside for affordable rental housing.
The program is designed to help address the post-storm housing needs of lower-income renters and can be used for new construction or major rehabilitation of existing affordable housing.
Projects had to reserve at least 51% of their apartments for households earning 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less.
The city also gave preference to projects with deeper affordability, long-term affordability commitments, financing in place, access to transit and services, and housing for seniors, people with disabilities, residents experiencing homelessness and other special-needs populations.
Of the 27 applications submitted through the city’s Request for Applications process, six projects were selected for funding:
JR Tower
The largest award, $15 million, would go to JR Tower, a 150-unit affordable housing development planned at 1850 Central Avenue.
Blue Sky Communities is developing the project, with Place Architecture serving as architect and DeAngelis Diamond as general contractor.
All 150 apartments would be affordable to households earning up to 80% of AMI for 99 years. The mix includes five units at 22% of AMI, 23 at 30% AMI, 88 at 60% AMI and 34 at 80% AMI.
JR Tower is expected to cost about $72.6 million and would include 97 one-bedroom and 53 two-bedroom apartments.
Plans also call for 2,700 square feet of retail space along Central Avenue, a fitness center, club room and library.
Construction is expected to begin in August 2027 and wrap up in April 2029.
Hartford & Saratoga Apartments
Blue Sky Communities and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority would receive $7.4 million for Hartford & Saratoga Apartments, a 109-unit affordable housing development near the southeast corner of 32nd Avenue North and Hartford Street.
The $37.5 million project combines 75 new affordable apartments on Hartford Street with the renovation of 34 existing Saratoga Apartments units at 3475 32nd Avenue North and 3480 33rd Avenue North.
Eighty-one apartments, or 74% of the project, would be reserved for households earning up to 30% of AMI. The remaining apartments would serve households earning up to 80% of AMI.
Blue Sky Communities is developing the project with the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. Place Architecture is the architect, and Park & Eleazer Construction is the general contractor.
Amenities would include a leasing office, clubroom, multipurpose programming space and fitness center.
Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and finish one year later.
Trailside Estates II
Magellan Housing’s Trailside Estates II would receive $7.05 million for a 94-unit affordable housing community for residents age 55 and older.
The project is planned for the eastern half of a parcel at the southeast corner of the Pinellas Trail and 40th Street South.
All 94 apartments would be affordable to households earning up to 80% of AMI. Fifteen units would be reserved for households earning 30% of AMI or less, while another 57 would be restricted at 60% of AMI or below.
The roughly $38.6 million project would include 48 one-bedroom and 46 two-bedroom apartments.
Halflants + Pichette is the architect, while a general contractor has not yet been selected.
A key feature is the project’s location directly along the Pinellas Trail. Magellan plans to build dedicated pedestrian connections between the property and the trail, giving residents direct access to the recreation and transportation corridor.
Construction is expected to start in January 2028 and finish in March 2029.
Skyway Flats
Elmington Capital’s Skyway Flats would receive $4.1 million for a new 176-unit affordable housing community near the northeast corner of 38th Avenue South and 34th Street South.
All 176 apartments would be income- and rent-restricted.
The project would include 43 one-bedroom, 95 two-bedroom and 38 three-bedroom apartments. Eighteen would be reserved for households earning up to 30% of AMI and designated for young adults aging out of foster care.
Another 52 units would serve households earning up to 40% of AMI, 18 would serve households earning up to 50% of AMI, and the remaining 88 would be restricted at 80% of AMI.
Skyway Flats is expected to cost about $77.2 million.
Southeast Venture is the architect and Elmington Construction is the general contractor.
The six-story development would include a pool, fitness center, leasing office with community space and on-site maintenance.
Construction is expected to begin in February 2027 and be complete in January 2029.
The Portland Apartments
The Portland Apartments, a 68-unit affordable housing tower built in 2011 at 300 8th Street North, would receive $2.5 million for a major renovation.
The 12-story building is being preserved as affordable housing through a partnership between the Pinellas County Housing Authority and Sunrise Affordable Housing Group.
All 68 apartments are affordable, with units restricted at either 35% or 60% of AMI.
The roughly $24.9 million project would renovate aging building systems, apartment interiors, windows and the roof.
Gallo Herbert Architects is the architect and ICON National is the general contractor.
The building includes a fitness center, community room, on-site management and 68 parking spaces.
Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2027 and be completed in February 2028. The investment would preserve the building’s affordability for at least 99 years.
Residences at 1663
The final award, $4.8 million, would go to Residences at 1663, a mixed-use project planned at 1663 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District.
BendinRoad Development plans to demolish an existing one-story office building and replace it with a 13-story development containing 60 apartments and 60 hotel rooms.
Forty-eight of the 60 apartments would be affordable to households earning up to 80% of AMI for 99 years.
The $39.4 million project is intended to serve workforce residents, including health care workers, teachers, hospitality employees and other service-sector workers.
Bold Line Design is the architect, and Nicholas & Associates is the general contractor.
The building would include a rooftop pool, gym and coworking space with downtown views.
Construction is expected to begin in January 2027 and finish in August 2028.
The city’s funds would be limited to eligible costs tied to the residential component and could not be used for the hotel portion of the project.
