ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The city of St. Petersburg is making plans to purchase a plot of land from St. Pete College to turn into affordable townhomes, prompting concerns for long-time residents in the area.
The plot of land is St. Petersburg College's former Gibbs Wellness Center. Community Planning and Preservation has already approved a zone change for the area.
Neighbors said this area is their escape from the bustling, growing town.
“It's actually a very nice, little hidden pocket,” Colleen Owens said.
Owens’ family has lived in the neighborhood for decades.
“My great-grandmother lived in this neighborhood and then my grandparents used it as a summer home and then about 12 years ago I purchased the home and I have lived here for 12 years,” Owens said.
She's concerned along with her next-door neighbor Alan Lamphere that the area could be changing soon.
“It's a very safe, quiet neighborhood now and this project can affect it greatly,” Lamphere said.
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The city's request to turn this five-acre plot of land from institutional zoning to residential was just approved. The city said this will address affordable housing needs across Tampa Bay.
“We do know that this property has to be maintained as affordable for purchase units for 30 years,” Amy Foster said.
This is something neighbors said is needed but believe will present challenges, like traffic.
“What is going to be the future use of it? How is it going to work? What is it going to look like? Is it going to match the fabric of the neighborhood?” Owens asked.
The plan is to create a community of up to 105 units targeting the workforce community.
“We're talking about teachers, cops, firefighters,” Foster said.
The city said 30% of the units will be reserved for students and faculty at St. Petersburg College. William Kilgore with the St. Pete Tenants Union said it will help some families, but many will be left out.
“The city has been prioritizing this workforce housing and for-hire incomes and has done next to nothing for people at the lowest end,” Kilgore said.
“If we don't manage the outcome and how it goes with the developer, the end result can be very different than what was intended,” Kilgore added.
This development now moves to the City Council for their approval of a zoning change. This will be on the agenda at the Feb. 15 city council meeting. The city said there will be opportunities for people in the community to voice their concerns at public hearings.