St. Petersburg Opens New Affordable Housing for School Staff

The new Bayou Court Apartments in St. Petersburg, designed for teachers and school faculty.

News Summary

St. Petersburg has launched the Bayou Court Apartments, a new affordable housing project aimed at supporting local teachers and school faculty. Located near Lakewood Elementary, the development comprises 60 units tailored for essential community members. With amenities and income restrictions in place, this initiative addresses housing stability for educators and government employees, enhancing the local education system. The project, costing approximately $17.3 million, showcases collaboration between the city, county, and developers to provide much-needed affordable living options.

St. Petersburg has officially opened the doors to the Bayou Court Apartments, a new affordable housing project designed specifically to support local teachers and school faculty. Located at 4201 6th Street South near Lakewood Elementary School, this development aims to provide accessible housing for essential community members in South St. Petersburg.

The Bayou Court Apartments project, which broke ground one year ago, represents a collaborative effort involving the City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, and Gravel Road Partners. This partnership has successfully created a total of 60 two-bedroom, two-bathroom units spread across two 12-unit buildings and one 36-unit building, with each apartment measuring approximately 1,051 square feet.

To ensure the apartments remain affordable, they are income-restricted for households earning between 50% and 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Specifically, the units are allocated as follows: 12 for households earning at least 50% of the AMI, 9 for those earning at least 80% of the AMI, 15 for households at least 100% of the AMI, and 24 for those earning at least 120% of the AMI. Priority for applications has been given to local school and government employees, with 21 units already leased, including 4 to local school employees and 3 to government workers.

The Bayou Court Apartments feature modern amenities, including luxury vinyl flooring, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, in-unit washers and dryers, and private balconies or terraces. Community amenities also enrich the living experience, offering residents a dog run, outdoor playground, picnic tables, and a community garden alongside off-street and bicycle parking.

The total cost of the apartment project was approximately $17.3 million, made possible through several funding sources. This includes $2.74 million from the City of St. Petersburg, $2.8 million from Pinellas County through its Penny for Pinellas funds, a commercial bank construction loan of $8.6 million, and $2.9 million from developer and investor equity. The project also leveraged the Workforce Housing Density and Graywater Density Bonus programs from both the City and State, which facilitated the construction of affordable housing in the area.

Community leaders have recognized the significance of this development and its potential to positively impact the local education system by providing teachers and faculty with the housing stability they need. The development team included several local firms such as Place Architecture, Park & Eleazor Construction, Osborn Civil Engineering, WGI Structural Engineering, and Carteret Property Management.

For more information about the Bayou Court Apartments and the available units, interested individuals can visit the community’s website.

This initiative serves as a vital step towards addressing the housing needs of essential workers in St. Petersburg, underscoring the importance of access to affordable living options for teachers and faculty within the community.