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Affordable housing project gets green light
By SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008 |
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PINELLAS COUNTY – The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved on Jan. 22 zoning changes needed for construction of a 55-unit affordable housing complex on 3.7 acres east of Park Street.
The property is located in the city limits of St. Petersburg and across the street from the city limits of Seminole.
Contemporary Housing Alternatives of Florida requested an amendment to the county’s future land use map from residential urban to residential low medium and from residential multiple family, 7.5 units per acre, to residential multiple family, 70 units per acre.
A 50 percent housing density also was requested with a developer’s agreement that the rental housing project would include a minimum of 20 percent of units being affordable to households with an annual income of less than 60 percent of the county’s median family income, or $32,600 for a family of four.
Another 30 percent of the units would be reserved for households with an annual income of 80 percent of the median, or $43,500 for a family of four. The remainder of the property would be available for households who make 120 percent of median income.
Anthony Jones, executive director of Housing Finance Authority and director of the Community Development Department, said the plan was to build a high quality mixed income apartment complex with units set aside for lower income households.
He said the location for the project was ideal due to its proximity to jobs and bus lines. He said the developer’s agreement called for construction of a covered bus shelter.
Jones praised the proposed development and said he understood that some of the neighbors were objecting to the project.
He said the problem was because people have misconceptions about affordable housing projects.
“This is not an inexpensive site,” Jones said. “It’s not what people think of when they think of public housing.”
However, many of the neighbors attended the Jan. 22 meeting to voice their objections.
Kathleen Glover and others said the density bonus was too much.
“Fifty-five times four is 210 people,” she said. “That’s 55 cars or more on the roads. Plus it will put a strain on the schools and other services.”
Although Glover’s main objection was the density bonus, she also said the “main thing is the project.”
Several speakers complained that there was a lack of jobs in the area, especially jobs that paid a decent wage. They said most of the jobs in the area were part time in the retail sector.
The other major objection was traffic.
Paul Cassel, director of the county’s Building and Development Review Services, agreed that traffic in the area was a problem. However, he pointed out that traffic and drainage problems would be much improved with the 46th Avenue construction project which is scheduled for completion prior to the opening of the apartment complex in 2010.
Jake Stowers, chairman of Contemporary Housing Alternatives of Florida, said complaints brought up at a neighborhood meeting were being addressed with additions such as a fence around the property. He said construction of the apartment complex would actually improve stormwater drainage in the area.
Commissioner Susan Latvala made the motion to approve the rezoning and density bonus.
“This is what we’ve been asking for,” she said. “There is a need.”
Commissioner Ken Welch agreed.
“This is not a project,” he said. “This is an affordable housing initiative for working people.”
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Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008
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