News Summary
St. Petersburg has officially launched the Sky Town development, a groundbreaking housing project set to deliver 121 affordable units in the Skyway Marina District. City officials and development partners celebrated this milestone aimed at addressing local housing needs. The initiative will see a total of 401 housing units in its first phase, with several reserved for lower-income households. The project, funded in part by city and county contributions, also emphasizes community amenities and the repurposing of historical buildings.
St. Petersburg has commenced a transformative housing project with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sky Town development, which will bring 121 affordable housing units to the Skyway Marina District. City leaders from St. Petersburg and Pinellas County joined development partners to celebrate this significant milestone in addressing affordable housing needs in the area.
The Sky Town development is situated at 3201 34th St. S. within a 34.3-acre site surrounding the old Ceridian building. The overall project will feature over 2,000 apartments and a retail area anchored by Sprouts Farmers Market. Designed as a six-phase project, the initial phase will consist of 401 housing units, with 121 units designated as affordable.
Among these affordable housing units, 61 will be reserved for households earning up to 120% of the area median income (AMI), which is approximately $103,000 for a family of three. An additional 60 units are set aside for those earning up to 80% AMI, estimated at about $69,000 for a family of three. The decision to incorporate these affordable units came after the project was initially planned as all-market rate housing. The city and county contributed a total of $10 million toward this initiative, with $4.5 million coming from the city and $5.5 million from the county.
Funding for the Sky Town project will be sourced from a forgivable loan via the Housing Capital Improvement Fund and Penny for Pinellas funds. The housing units will vary in size, ranging from 562 to 1,370 square feet, and will offer options for studios as well as one to three-bedroom apartments.
Amenities included in the development plans feature a rooftop lounge, swimming pool, and ground-level retail space, enhancing the living experience for residents. Notably, the historic Ceridian building will remain on-site but will no longer serve as Ceridian’s headquarters; it will be repurposed as an office building. This site was previously known for housing the Ceridian campus and served briefly as a filming location for the sci-fi series SeaQuest during the early 1990s.
The construction of the Sky Town development is anticipated to positively influence local workforce talent and improve housing stability in the region. This initiative aligns with the recently launched Housing Opportunities for All Plan by Mayor Ken Welch, aimed at expanding access to affordable housing in St. Petersburg.
The St. Petersburg City Council had already approved the city’s contribution of $4.5 million in April, paving the way for this critical development. With Altis Cardinal as the development partner overseeing the project, the Sky Town development is set to be a game-changer in the efforts to address housing shortages and provide affordable options for the community.
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Additional Resources
- Florida Politics: City & County Leaders Break Ground on New Affordable Housing in St. Pete
- Wikipedia: Affordable Housing
- I Love the Burg: Sky Town Apartments St. Pete
- Google Search: affordable housing St. Petersburg
- St. Pete Catalyst: Construction Begins on $800 million Skyway Marina Project
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Housing
- Fox 13 News: Large Crowd Calls St. Pete to Create More Affordable Housing
- Google News: affordable housing Sky Town development
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
