ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Construction is underway on a 264-unit affordable housing community in St. Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District, a project hailed by city officials as a significant step towards addressing the region’s housing challenges. The development, known as Fairfield Avenue Apartments, officially broke ground on , on a site steeped in local history.
The 6.9-acre property at
3300 Fairfield Avenue Southwas purchased by Fairfield Avenue Apartments LLC, an entity linked to St. Petersburg-based HP Capital Group and former Florida Senator Jeff Brandes, for approximately $6.2 million. The land will be leased through a trust administered by the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County, ensuring affordability for 99 years.
The project’s origins trace back to early , and it gained historical significance when St. Petersburg became the first city in Florida to approve an affordable housing development under House Bill 1339. Enacted in , this legislation, a precursor to the Live Local Act, allows local governments to permit affordable residential developments in industrially zoned areas, streamlining the approval process.
The development site carries a legacy rooted in the region’s economic past. For over 50 years, the land was home to Tibbetts Lumber Company, founded by Linton Tibbetts, Brandes’ grandfather, in the 1970s. Prior to that, the site operated as Cox Lumber and, even earlier, as an orange grove and a Seaboard rail line. “My grandfather immigrated here in the 1940s, (and) had bought a little tiny lumber company,” Brandes said. “(Those businesses) really grew this community and grew along with it and helped build many of the houses that you and I live in today.”
The need for affordable housing in the area was underscored by conversations Brandes had with local hospital leadership. “I was talking to the leadership of the hospitals and at All Children’s in Bayfront and talking about what a struggle they were finding for housing some of their employees that were making $20 or $30 an hour, but they still couldn’t find a place to live anywhere near downtown Saint Petersburg,” he explained.
The unit mix within the Fairfield Avenue Apartments will include 74 one-bedroom units, 162 two-bedroom units, and 28 three-bedroom units. Of these, 53 units will be reserved for households earning at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), 67 units for households earning up to 80% AMI, and 144 units for households earning up to 120% AMI.
Mayor Ken Welch emphasized the importance of House Bill 1339 in facilitating the project. “Now, the state passed legislation a few years ago to permit the development of affordable housing on industry zoned land like this. And St. Pete, again, was the first city to take advantage of that opportunity,” he stated.
The project, estimated to cost $87.8 million, received $22.1 million in local government subsidies. Despite initial projections for groundbreaking in , the development faced delays, ultimately beginning construction in . HP Capital Group received a two-year site plan extension from city administrators to overcome these hurdles.
Angelo Cappelli, a partner at HP Capital, highlighted the commitment of the Brandes family to the project. “I told them we could get it done in two or three years,” he said. “So, I got pretty close.” Cappelli added, “They have stayed committed to this project. They view this as a legacy for their grandfather.”
The Fairfield Avenue Apartments are expected to provide hundreds of affordable housing units in close proximity to downtown jobs and public transportation. The development includes plans for a community pool and computer labs within each of the three buildings that will comprise the complex.
Jeff Brandes, founder of the Florida Policy Project, expressed his satisfaction in seeing the project transition from policy to tangible reality. “Well, it’s exciting to be able to talk to people, not somebody who’s theoretical, but who’s doing it practically, too,” he said. “I mean, it’s great to be part of that process. And knowing the struggles of putting a development like this together, but also the looks on people’s faces when they get their keys for the for the for their apartments. That’s what I’m really excited about.”
As of today, , construction is actively underway, marking a significant milestone in St. Petersburg’s efforts to expand access to affordable housing options for its workforce.
