Bids To Redevelop Tomlinson Building As Teacher Housing Sought: PCS

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Pinellas County Schoolsis seeking proposals to transform the historic Tomlinson Adult Education Center building in St. Petersburg as housing for district teachers and staff.

The district issued a request for proposals for the development and management of a residential or mixed-use community for its workers on the Mirror Lake area property, according to a PCS news release.

The goal of the project is to address a shortage of workforce housing for Pinellas County Schools employees, the district said. The redevelopment with also optimize how the building is used and preserve it.

“Pinellas County is a highly desirable place to live and work with very few areas to develop housing. In order to attract the best teachers to our community, we must be proactive in providing housing choices that are attainable and appealing,” Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said. “This project sets out to innovatively and collaboratively address housing for our teachers and other district employees. I look forward to working with the successful bidder to create something truly special for our employees and our community.”

The building dates back to 1924, when it was built. Initially, it served as St. Petersburg Junior High School. By 1931, it became a vocational high school and was named the Edwin H. Tomlinson Vocational School four years later.

In 1978, it changed names again, becoming the Tomlinson Adult Education Center – the name it held until it closed last year.

As the two Pinellas Technical College campuses grew and the county expanded vocational and career education at each high school, enrollment declined at Tomlinson over the past decade, the district said. When it closed in December 2021, its programming was incorporated into existing programs at PTC campuses and evening programs at local high schools.