Background on SPHA's Central Office

On Tuesday, February 21, 2012, SPHA opened the doors of its new central office location at 2001 Gandy Boulevard North in St. Petersburg. The new office, which includes SPHA's Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 department, the contracts department, and agency administration, was designed to meet the long-term needs of the housing authority, with a focus on functionality, energy-efficiency, and sustainability.

SPHA's office is now more centrally located within the area we serve and is closer to several of our public housing developments. An added convenience is that it is close and accessible to many transportation corridors, including two major transit hubs at the Gateway Mall and the Shoppes from Park Place.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the St. Petersburg Housing Authority to reduce the concentration of poverty in certain areas of the city, and the location of the new office allows our clients to become more familiar with other business and housing options. Click here to download a map of SPHA's service area (PDF).

Extensive Search for Suitable and Sustainable Properties

During 2009 and 2010, housing authority staff, at the direction of the SPHA Board of Commissioners, looked for a suitable property for a central office within its service area, which encompasses the city of St. Petersburg and a 10-mile radius of the city.

At least 21 properties, including land and existing structures, were carefully reviewed. Properties were measured against several criteria, such as proximity to public transportation, concentration of poverty at the location, energy efficiency, and sustainability. SPHA's entire Board of Commissioners publicly discussed these options in board and committee meetings throughout the process, and staff also presented them to the City Council’s Housing Committee.

After considering the results from this search, SPHA's Board of Commissioners decided to move forward with the purchase of land in the Gateway Business Park in St. Petersburg, which was more centrally located within SPHA's jurisdiction than previous facilities, and to construct the new central office building. The housing authority purchased a total of 5.36 acres of land from Mercantile Bank for approximately $1 million in July 2010, using non-HUD funds. The land was appraised by the bank for $1.75 million and was in foreclosure.

In addition to building the central office facility on the site, SPHA had plans to develop 50 units of Wounded Warrior housing on the remaining acreage. However, after indicating otherwise, the city would not allow the housing authority to move forward with those plans. As a result, SPHA parceled the excess land (approximately 3.7 acres) and advertised it for sale in May 2011. The sale proceeds will be used to reimburse the land cost.

No monies from the sale of the Graham/Rogall buildings to Urban Style Flats, LLC were used to purchase the land or to construct the new central office.

Designing a More Functional, Efficient Office

The new central office was designed by Robert Reid Wedding Architects & Planners to be a practical and functional work space. The plans for the 12,756 square foot office facility featured maximized public spaces, including public meeting rooms and private interview areas, to better accommodate clients' needs, and the administrative space was streamlined for increased efficiency.

In support of HUD’s green building initiatives, the new office also was constructed with energy-efficient materials. The lighting and air-conditioning were designed to reduce energy costs, which will result in a financial savings for the agency. The landscaping around the new facility utilizes sustainable, native plants and grasses that will need little maintenance. These details will allow the housing authority to maximize cost-savings in electricity, water, and property maintenance.

Building a Sustainable Facility to Meet Long-Term Needs

In May 2011, after two rounds of proposals from contractors, the SPHA Board of Commissioners approved a resolution for the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate an agreement with Brooks & Freund, LLC, for site and building construction. The not-to-exceed cost of $1,557,688 in the resolution includes a portion which inures to the benefit of the empty parcel.

In the summer of 2011, construction started on the central office building. At a time when most major construction projects were halted or placed in a hovering mode, this project was a boost to the construction industry and to St. Petersburg’s local economy, helping to create local jobs. Construction was completed in February 2012, coming in under budget, and the office was open to clients by the end of the month.

This central office location is the realization of the SPHA Board of Commissioners’ long-time vision for the agency, ensuring it has a sustainable base for operations for the future.