The St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to allocate $40.85 million in federal disaster‑recovery dollars to six affordable‑housing developments. The money, provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant‑Disaster Recovery program, will fund 645 rental units for low‑ and moderate‑income households.

Funding background

The grant program was created in response to Hurricane Idalia in 2023 and Hurricane Helene in 2024. The city previously received $48 million from the same source, with $42 million earmarked for this round of applications. Thirty‑four developers submitted proposals seeking nearly $247 million; after an initial threshold review, seven applications were eliminated for missing site control, affordability periods or zoning requirements.

How projects were selected

A review committee representing the city’s Housing and Community Development, Strategic Initiatives, Finance, Transportation and Real Estate departments scored the remaining 27 proposals. Scores were based on developer experience, financial feasibility, and the ability to obtain a certificate of occupancy within 36 months. Additional points were awarded for serving seniors, people experiencing homelessness, and residents with disabilities, as well as for proximity to transit and essential utilities.

All projects must reserve at least 51 % of units for households earning 80 % or less of the area median income (AMI). Projects can earn extra points by providing a larger share of units at deeper income levels.

Projects receiving awards

• JR Tower – $15 million. Blue Sky Communities will build a 12‑story, 150‑unit building at 1850 Central Ave. in the Grand Central District, with 28 units for households earning ≤30 % AMI, 88 units for 51‑60 % AMI and 34 units for 61‑80 % AMI.
• Hartford & Saratoga Apartments – $7.4 million. A joint effort by Blue Sky Communities and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority will deliver 109 units on Hartford Street and 32nd Avenue N., including 81 units for ≤30 % AMI and 28 units for 61‑80 % AMI.
• Trailside Estates II – $7.05 million. Magellan Housing plans 94 apartments for residents 55 and older near the Pinellas Trail, with 15 units for ≤30 % AMI, 57 units for 51‑60 % AMI and 22 units for 61‑80 % AMI.
• Residences at 1663 – $4.8 million. BendinRoad Development will construct a 13‑story mixed‑use building at 1663 First Ave. S., featuring 60 affordable apartments (48 income‑restricted) and 60 short‑term rental units. Groundbreaking is slated for early 2027.
• Southline Apartments – $4.1 million. Elmington Capital will deliver 176 affordable units near 38th Ave. and 34th St. S., with 18 units for ≤30 % AMI, 70 units for 31‑50 % AMI and 88 units for 61‑80 % AMI.
• The Portland – $2.5 million. Sunrise Affordable Housing will rehabilitate its existing 68‑unit development at 300 Eighth St. N., including seven units for 31‑50 % AMI and 61 units for 51‑60 % AMI.

Impact and next steps

The six awards total $40.85 million, leaving $1.15 million of the $42 million round unallocated. Committee scores for the funded projects ranged from 70 % to 90 %, with Hartford & Saratoga receiving the highest score. The council tied each award to performance deadlines and loan agreements, and all projects must maintain affordability for at least 99 years.

These investments address the acute housing shortage highlighted by the recent hurricanes and demonstrate the city’s commitment to providing safe, affordable homes for seniors, families and those experiencing homelessness. By leveraging federal disaster‑recovery funds, St. Petersburg is turning crisis dollars into long‑term community stability.

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.