SPHA Receives Funds from the City of St. Petersburg for New Senior Affordable Housing Development

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (October 25, 2022) - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority's (SPHA) planned redevelopment of the former Ed White Hospital site is one of the seven affordable housing projects to receive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the city of St. Petersburg. During their October 20, 2022, meeting, the St. Petersburg City Council awarded just under $9 million to SPHA to build 70 affordable housing units for seniors living at 60 percent or below of the Area Median Income (AMI).

 

SPHA's President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Lundy said, "We are so thankful for the support and partnership of the city council and mayor of St. Petersburg. This funding will help us advance the Ed White Hospital redevelopment project, which will create much-needed affordable housing opportunities for low-income seniors in our community and bring the housing authority even closer to the people we serve. We are definitely on the move, and it's going to be a beautiful transformation."

 

SPHA Board Chairperson James Dates said, "When Mr. Lundy was hired as CEO, our board charged him with moving critical housing development projects forward and moving our staff to a place that is more centralized and accessible for our clients. This Ed White Hospital project marks significant progress towards both of these important goals. With the support of our city partners, I am fully confident that this property will be developed, and I am excited for what we will accomplish together for the benefit of our community."

 

The city of St. Petersburg allocated $5,938,214 in ARPA Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and an additional $3,000,000 in Penny for Pinellas funds to SPHA to support the senior housing component of the redevelopment project. SPHA is working with Wannemacher Jensen Architects on site plans, which will transform the former Ed White Hospital into a multi-story affordable housing complex.

 

The renovated six-story, 121,000-square-foot building will feature five studio apartments, 60 one-bedroom apartments, and five two-bedroom apartments. In addition to the 70 senior apartments, the building will include professional office space. SPHA intends to move some of its administrative offices to the new development and to make additional offices available for local nonprofit entities or businesses.

 

SPHA purchased the former Ed White Hospital site in December 2021. In addition to the city funds, SPHA is exploring other funding streams for the redevelopment project. Construction dates have not yet been set, but SPHA expects to submit finalized site plans to the city of St. Petersburg for permitting later this fall.

 

SPHA is the leading provider of affordable housing in the St. Petersburg region. For more information about SPHA's housing programs and planned developments, visit www.stpeteha.org or call 727-323-3171.

 

ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY (SPHA):

An independent quasi-governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Florida, operating under Chapter 421 Florida Statutes, SPHA is the local administrative agency for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SPHA offers a variety of programs and services that provide affordable rental housing to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and the disabled in the greater St. Petersburg region. For more information, visit www.stpeteha.org.