1st Tampa Infill Affordable Home Ready For New Family To Move In

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Mayor Jane Castor's goal of creating 10,000 affordable homes by 2027 is making headway with the first of 17 affordable homes from Phase II of the city of Tampa's Infill Housing Program officially complete.

Last week, Castor joined RL Builders owner Randy Randolph to unveil the Sulphur Springs home, 1609 E. Idell St.

To provide more affordable houses, Castor said the city searched its database for vacant city-owned lots that could support affordable homes.

Just under a year ago, the city of Tampa's Housing and Community Development division awarded 15 vacant, city-owned residential lots to 11 local developers and nonprofits through a digital lottery process.

Two of the lots were large enough to split, allowing for the creation of 17 affordable single-family homes.

"If they can get the lot for free, they can take that off the bottom line and make the home affordable for our community," Castor said.

Working closely with Development & Growth Management staff to expedite permits and help the developers navigate the development process as quickly and efficiently as possible, the homes are well on track to completion, with the Idell property already in possession of its Certificate of Occupancy and ready to welcome a deserving, income-qualifying family through its doors.

Built with quality in mind, the 1,250-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bathroom home includes several upgrades, like crown molding and quartz countertops.

"A clear reflection of our commitment to fostering more public-private partnerships, our Infill Housing Program is bringing real results to address our affordable housing crisis," said Castor. "We cannot wait to see deserving families, couples or individuals move into these beautiful homes with all the amenities they deserve, while remaining within their budget. I'm immensely proud of our Development & Growth Management team for seeing this vision through. Not only are we increasing our affordable housing inventory, we are also providing local developers, many of them minority, a unique business opportunity where they can help make a difference in our communities."

"I got into this program because I realized we were going to be giving, so I not only wanted to teach my son to build but be able to give as well," Randolph said. "It's important to me, too, that a great family would be moving in and would appreciate what they were getting."

"I really knew what I wanted," said new homeowner Belina Glass. "I had it in my mind's eye. The question was, would I be able to afford it? Because of this program and the funding Mayor Castor has given it, I was able to afford something better than I had even dreamed of."

The Sulphur Springs home was listed for approximately $300,000, and the Glass family was required to fall within the 80 percent Area Median Income (AMI) bracket.

Many of the developers participating in this program, including RL Builders, will select qualifying home buyers through the city of Tampa's DARE to Own the Dream Homeownership Program, which offers closing cost assistance and forgivable down payment loans.