Pinellas County Has A Housing Problem, According To Official

According to a recent study authorized by the Pinellas County Community Development department, Pinellas County stands to lose 4,600 residents in the next 17 years despite overall growth in the greater Tampa Bay region.

Department official Armanda Lampley presented the findings of the study, conducted by the Strategic Planning Group, Inc., during the Safety Harbor City Commission meeting on Monday night.

The study shows that while the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) that includes Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater will grow by 670,000 residents between now and 2030, Pinellas County is itself is expected to lose 4,600 residents due to lack of appropriate housing.

"We are losing population while the surrounding area as a whole is gaining population," Lampley said. "We have to ask ourselves the question, 'Why is that so?' "

"The axiom is if you're not growing, you're dying. New housing is critical for Pinellas County's economic growth."

Lampley said according to the consultant's findings, the housing stock in Pinellas County is older and dominated by smaller units that have two bedrooms or less.

These issues present problems to people looking to move into the area.

"When people are coming to the county, or you have jobs relocating to the county, those employees are looking for a different type of housing. They're not looking for housing that's very old. They're not looking for housing that's very small."

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According to the study, the housing inventory in Pinellas is aging: 58 percent of homes are more than than 43 years old. The study also shows that 55 percent of the county's 500,000 plus homes are single family. In Safety Harbor the number is even greater: 73 percent of the city's 8,062 housing units are of the single family variety.

The consultant's recommendations to improve the situation included saving and renovating existing rental housing; creating more density and replacing or augmenting single family with two or more units; and educating home buyers.

Commissioner Nina Bandoni, who requested Lampley present the study's findings to the commission, asked if employers would be considering relocating to other counties due to the lack of housing.

"Yes," Lampley replied. "If you don't have the type of housing employees looking for, they're going to go across the line to get the house they're looking for ... instead of staying inside the county."

"That's why the consultant is making a bold statement with the axiom that you are dying if you're not increasing your population growth."

Mayor Joe Ayoub then asked Lampley what suggestions her department would make to help the city address the issue.

She said the study is just a starting point for communities to begin a dialog to take steps to rectify the situation.

"If there is a suggestion that I would give to you, it's that you now specifically look at the information that's related to Safety Harbor ... and start to look at how it will impact you in the future."

"Look at where you can change your housing landscape by looking at the city as a whole."

Is there a housing problem here in Safety Harbor? Sound off in the comments section below.