SPHA IN THE NEWS: SPHA Collaborating with Blue Sky Communities on New Affordable Housing Development
By Nick Fokianos, SPHA Director of Communications
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is collaborating with Tampa Bay Area-based affordable housing developer Blue Sky Communities on a new affordable housing residential community. Situated at Hartford Street North and 32nd Avenue North, near the 34th Street corridor, the new project signifies a significant step forward in meeting the growing demand for affordable housing in St. Petersburg.
SPHA IN THE NEWS:
- St. Pete Catalyst - 3/4/2024: CLICK HERE to read the St. Pete Catalyst article from March 4th. >
- Tampa Bay Business Journal - 3/5/2024: CLICK HERE to read the Tampa Bay Business Journal article. >
- I Love the Burg - 3/5/2024: CLICK HERE to read the I Love the Burg article. >
- Cliggitt Valuation - 3/5/2024: CLICK HERE to read the Cliggitt Valuation blog. >
- St. Pete Rising - 3/6/2024: CLICK HERE to read the St. Pete Rising article. >
- Business Observer - 3/10/2024: CLICK HERE to read the Business Observer article. >
- St. Pete Catalyst - 3/19/24: CLICK HERE to read the St. Pete Catalyst article from March 19th. >
The Hartford site is 1.35-acre in size. On February 15th, the St. Petersburg City Council approved rezoning for the parcel which will allow higher-density housing to be built. Around 95 new units are expected to be built. The new development is poised to feature a combination of family and senior apartments, complemented by an outdoor recreational space for activities like pickleball and shuffleboard. The new buildings will be constructed on land already owned by SPHA.
The project will also encompass renovating the existing SPHA property Saratoga Apartments, which is located nearby on 3475 32nd Avenue North in St. Petersburg. Saratoga Apartments is an affordable family development, consisting of 34 one and two-bedroom units in two two-story residential apartment buildings.
This new development is part of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority's ongoing effort to increase the number of affordable housing units in the city.
"We are very excited to reach this milestone and begin working with the St. Petersburg Housing Authority," said Blue Sky Communities Partner Scott Macdonald. "The need for this housing in St. Petersburg is enormous."
"The St. Petersburg Housing Authority is delighted and energized to embark on this development with Blue Sky Communities," said SPHA President/CEO Michael Lundy. "This project aligns seamlessly with our commitment to addressing the pressing need for housing in St. Petersburg."
"We could not be more thrilled to pursue this development opportunity as the latest step in fulfilling our mission to provide safe, affordable housing to the residents of St. Petersburg, especially in a time of such great need," said SPHA Board Chairman James Dates. "Our board will always lend our support in this critical effort."
SPHA is the leading affordable housing provider in the city of St. Petersburg, serving more than 4,000 low-income households. SPHA's mission is to provide safe, sanitary, accessible, decent, and affordable housing to eligible citizens of the city of St. Petersburg, while enhancing and promoting resident self-sufficiency.
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About The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA):
An independent quasi-governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Florida, operating under Chapter 421 Florida Statutes, SPHA is the local administrative agency for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SPHA offers a variety of programs and services that provide affordable rental housing to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and the disabled in the greater St. Petersburg region. For more information, visit www.stpeteha.org.