The City of St. Petersburg, along with the St. Petersburg Housing Authority and various partners, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Edward White Campus development project on September 3, 2024. The project is located at 2323 9th Ave. N and will include 71 apartments designated for low-income seniors. Additional facilities such as a community room, computer lab, fitness center, and an Evara Health facility are also part of the development.
Mayor Kenneth T. Welch was present at the event to deliver a proclamation. Bonnie White Baer, daughter of Astronaut Ed White, also attended and spoke during the ceremony.
Other notable speakers included Michael Lundy, President and CEO of SPHA; James Dates, Chair of the SPHA Board of Commissioners; René Flowers, Pinellas County Commissioner for District 7; Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Chair of St. Petersburg City Council for District 5; Richie Floyd from St. Petersburg City Council for District 8; Rainer Pelzel, Vice President at Valley Bank; and Johnathan Stanton, President of LEMA Construction.
This initiative aligns with the City’s Housing Opportunities For All Plan and Mayor Welch’s Housing Opportunities For All Pillar For Progress.
The Housing Opportunities For All Plan was introduced by Mayor Welch in April 2023 to address rising housing costs in St. Petersburg amid its growth. This plan expands on the City’s existing 10-year strategy to support renters and provide financial assistance to preserve affordable housing options.
The Housing Opportunities For All Pillar For Progress emphasizes housing affordability as a central component of Mayor Welch’s agenda. It aims to improve living conditions for residents by fostering strong neighborhoods and equity through affordable housing programs that incentivize first-time homeownership and encourage new construction for low- and moderate-income families.
Further details about these initiatives can be found at stpete.org/AffordableHousing and stpete.org/pillars.
