June 09, 2025

Former Ed White Hospital conversion to 71-unit affordable senior housing community advances in North Kenwood

June 09, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is expected to begin construction on the second phase of an extensive renovation to the former Edward White Hospital, converting the building into a 71-unit affordable housing complex for seniors, thanks to recently approved funding.

Last Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council approved $8.9 million in funding for the $42.5 million project underway at 2323 9th Avenue North in North Kenwood.

The funding includes $6.9 million from Penny for Pinellas, of which $3 million was previously approved, and $2 million in HOME funds.

In 2022, the project was awarded $5.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, however those funds were rescinded in 2024 citing extensive project delays and reallocated to two other affordable housing projects—Flats on 4th and Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary.

June 06, 2025

40-unit affordable townhome project planned for south St. Pete receives city funding

June 06, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

After years of planning, an affordable townhome community is advancing with the help of newly approved funding.

At a Thursday meeting, the St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved $2.18 million in funding for Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Gulfside to build Pelican Place, a 40-unit affordable townhome community at 2100 18th Avenue South.

The funding is coming from previously allocated Tax Increment Financing (TIF) dollars from the South St. Petersburg Redevelopment District Fund.

The property, valued at $1.43 million and located across from Tangerine Plaza, was sold to Habitat for Humanity for $10, bringing the city’s total financial commitment to over $3.6 million for the project, or $90,000 per unit.

June 05, 2025

Four developers compete to build affordable townhomes on former SPC site in west St. Pete

June 05, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Four development teams have responded to the city’s request for proposals (RFP) to build affordable housing on a city-owned property in west St. Pete.

The city has released the four proposals it received in response to a reissued RFP to redevelop a 5.24-acre property at 7045 Burlington Avenue North.

The City purchased the site from St. Petersburg College in 2024 for $4.2 million. It currently features a two-story building on the south end that formerly housed the college’s Gibbs Wellness Center, while the north end remains vacant.

The respondents include local developer HP Capital Group in partnership with national homebuilder D.R. Horton; joint venture partners Habitat for Humanity Gulfside and homebuilder Namasté Homes; Tampa-based homebuilder Ramos Development LLC in partnership with Land Advisors Organization and technology-forward homebuilder ONX Homes; and affordable housing homebuilder McDowell Housing Partners LLC.

May 19, 2025

376-unit residential community proposed for 22-acre Empath Health campus in Largo

May 19, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A South Carolina developer is planning to transform the 21.8-acre Empath Health campus in Largo into a large-scale residential community that includes affordable housing made possible by Florida’s Live Local Act.

Greystar Real Estate Partners, currently under contract to purchase the property at 5771 Roosevelt Boulevard, has proposed a 376-unit development consisting of apartments and townhomes. Of those, 150 units will be reserved as affordable housing.

The planned community, named Bayside, will include an ample amount of green space featuring gravel paths, gardens, sports areas for families, two dog parks, playgrounds, a potential putting green, a shaded hammock area, a walking trail around a large stormwater pond.

May 08, 2025

60-unit Bayou Court opens in south St. Pete with affordable apartments for teachers and government workers

May 08, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

One year ago, city leaders and a local developer broke ground on a transformational project in south St. Pete that aimed to create more housing opportunities for teachers and faculty. Today, the community has officially opened.

The new 60-unit apartment community, Bayou Court Apartments, is located near the southeast corner of Lake Maggiore at 4201 6th Street South, directly behind Lakewood Elementary School.

The project, which recently welcomed its first residents, was made possible through a public-private collaboration between the City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, and Gravel Road Partners, a Washington D.C.-based workforce and affordable housing developer that acquired the property in 2022 for $1.7 million.

April 29, 2025

80-unit affordable housing project Flats on 4th moves forward in north St. Pete

April 29, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

An undeveloped parcel at the southwest corner of the intersection of 106th Avenue North and 4th Street North will be developed into 80 affordable apartments reserved for seniors.

The project, dubbed Flats on 4th—a previously approved four-story mid-rise building designed for low-income seniors earning between 40% and 60% of the area median income (AMI).

The Pinellas County Housing Finance Authority purchased the land for the project earlier this month, as Trustee of the land trust, for $2.94 million using Penny for Pinellas funds, a voter-approved one-cent sales tax designated for infrastructure improvements.

April 17, 2025

St. Pete approves $4.5M for affordable housing in 2,084-unit Sky Town development

April 17, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

One of the largest residential developments underway in St. Petersburg is set to receive local funding to support the inclusion of affordable housing.

On Thursday, the St. Pete City Council unanimously approved a $4.5 million contribution from the Housing Capital Improvement Fund for the first phase of Sky Town, a major mixed-use project planned for 3201 34th Street South in the Skyway Marina District.

This follows the Pinellas County Commission’s earlier unanimous decision to allocate $5.5 million to Coral Gables-based developer Altis Cardinal for the same phase of the project.

Originally planned as a fully market-rate development, the project now includes affordable housing thanks to a combined $10 million subsidy from the city and county.

Sky Town will be built in six phases and is set to include 2,084 apartments, 69,000 square feet of neighborhood retail anchored by a Sprouts Farmers Market, and 120,000 square feet of self-storage space.

April 16, 2025

City relaunches RFP process for new affordable housing development in west St. Pete

April 16, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The City of St. Petersburg is once again seeking a development partner to transform a west St. Pete site into an affordable, for-sale townhome community.

Earlier this month, the city issued a Request for Proposals (RFP), inviting developers to submit plans for the redevelopment of a 5.24-acre property located at 7045 Burlington Avenue North.

The site was purchased by the city from St. Petersburg College in 2024 for $4.2 million, with the intent to construct 105 affordable housing units. As part of the purchase contract for the property, the City of St. Pete agreed to offer SPC students and faculty first right of refusal to purchase 30% of the new residential units.

The property currently features a two-story building on its southern end—formerly the Gibbs Wellness Center of St. Petersburg College—while the northern portion of the site remains vacant.

April 04, 2025

144-unit affordable apartment community proposed for Largo

April 04, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A Santa Monica, CA-based developer plans to convert a vacant site in Largo's Pinellas Groves community into a 144-unit affordable apartment complex.

Named Olea on 126, the project will include three four-story residential buildings at 6727 126th Avenue North, with units designated for residents earning between 40% and 80% of the area median income (AMI).

The community will offer surface parking and amenities such as a clubhouse, park area, and covered patio.

March 19, 2025

304-unit apartment complex in Largo to convert into affordable housing

March 19, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The Oasis at Bayside apartment complex in Largo will undergo an extensive renovation to convert the units to affordable housing and update the aging amenities.

Washington, DC-based multifamily investor Gravel Road Partners and Bridge Investment Group, an investment company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, purchased the 304-unit property at 305 Glades Circle on March 12th for $42.25 million.

Berkadia Senior Managing Director Jason Stanton represented the seller, Latitude Management Real Estate Investors of Beverly Hills, California, in the transaction.

The new owners are partnering with Pinellas County to renovate the 1974-built property and dedicate 258 units for tenants earning 50% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Currently the property has no affordability requirements.