Robots, Role Models, and Rising Futures for Jordan Park Youth

St. Petersburg College (SPC) hosting a STEM presentation for Jordan Park youth at the St. Petersburg College Midtown Center.

By Nick Fokianos, SPHA Director of Communications

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is partnering with St. Petersburg College (SPC) to implement youth mentorship programming and activities for Jordan Park youth.

LEARN MORE about SPHA partnering with SPC. >

The SPC C.A.R.E. (Career Awareness and Readiness Events) Youth Development Initiative with Jordan Park is a career exposure initiative designed to connect the youth of Jordan Park to various cutting-edge fields.

On April 22, SPC hosted a STEM presentation for Jordan Park youth at the St. Petersburg College Midtown Center. The dynamic engineering and robotics discussion was led by Dr. Sid Martin.

Thank you, SPC! Together, we're illuminating pathways to success!

ABOUT JORDAN PARK:

Jordan Park is a historic housing community managed by the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA). It is known for being St. Petersburg's first African American housing community and the oldest federal public housing project in the state. It was originally built between 1939 and 1941.

On November 23, 2021, SPHA received approval from HUD for its Jordan Park redevelopment proposal, which would change the funding structure from Public Housing to Project-Based Vouchers and put the long-awaited community revitalization project into motion. The Jordan Park Redevelopment Project consisted of the following elements:

• Transitioning the Jordan Park family apartments (206 units) from Public Housing to a Project-Based Voucher (PBV) funding platform.
• Renovation of the 206 Family Units (i.e. new flooring, countertops, cabinets, washers and dryers in units, safety features, energy-efficiency improvements, etc.)
• Construction of a new three-story, 60-unit senior midrise building (for households 62 years and older) named "The Legacy at Jordan Park."

On December 14, 2021, SPHA closed on Jordan Park in partnership with co-developer Norstar Development USA, LP, and with the investment of Fannie Mae, KeyBank, and RBC Community Investments. Partners also included the bond issuer, the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County, and the City of St. Petersburg, which provided Community Redevelopment Area funding.

On October 27, 2023, SPHA held the grand opening of The Legacy at Jordan Park. SPHA also celebrated the completion of the surrounding newly renovated 206 Jordan Park Family Units.

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.