270 More Affordable Homes Coming To Pinellas; Ribbon-Cutting Set For Eagle Ridge

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Tarpon Springs Housing Authority and developer Norstar are hosting a ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday, May 18, at 11 a.m. to celebrate last year’s successful opening of Eagle Ridge, a 71-unit affordable apartment community.

The development, located at 721 Mango Circle, was supported in part through Pinellas County’s HOME and HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funds.

Eagle Ridge offers one-, two- or three-bedroom, pet-friendly, apartment homes with spacious, open floor plans, granite countertops, energy-star appliances, faux wood floors and tile surround showers.

The affordable housing community includes a clubhouse with a community room, fitness center and playground.

In its continuing efforts to relieve the affordable housing crisis, the Pinellas County Commission has also approved funds for two other affordable housing projects that will add another 270 units in the next few years.

The commission gave conditional approval to use Penny for Pinellas funds to support a new rental community in South St. Petersburg and approved funds from the State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP) to rehabilitate six units in Lealman for people with special needs.

Fairfield Avenue Apartments, 3300 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Petersburg, will provide 264 affordable homes with all units set aside for those earning less than 120 percent, 80 percent or 50 percent of the area median income.

The county will provide $5.6 million from the Penny for Pinellas tax for land and construction costs. The project is also supported by a loan from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the St. Petersburg CRA.

Homes for Independence will fund the renovation of six units at 1000 79th Ave. N., 8211 12th Way N. and 3890 7th Ave. N. in the Lealman area, using $386,198 in SHIP funds. The units will be set at affordable rates for people with special needs.

See related stories:

• Affordable Housing Projects Get Nod From Pinellas Commissioners
• Long-Term Housing Solutions Addressed In New Pinellas County Plan
• Summit Aims To Bring More Affordable Housing To Pinellas County
• Pinellas Aims To Provide More Affordable Homes For Residents

The county has approved more than 1,100 affordable homes for funding support with the renewed Penny for Pinellas in the past two years alone, with many currently under construction by local developers. The voter-approved Penny sales tax helps cover the land and other authorized costs for residential developments where some or all units are reserved at affordable rates.

Other affordable housing projects receive county support through local, state and federal programs in partnership with the Pinellas County Housing Finance Authority, Pinellas County Housing Authority and other agencies.

The county has also joined with Forward Pinellas and the cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo and Pinellas Park in the Advantage Pinellas Countywide Housing Compact, an agreement to develop and implement long-term solutions to housing affordability.

Pinellas County has committed an estimated $80 million from the Penny sales tax to support development of affordable housing over the next decade.

For more information on countywide affordable housing programs, click here.

For a list of resources to help renters and others struggling with housing affordability, click here.