Construction begins on Bear Creek Commons, an 85-unit affordable apartment building, in west St. Pete
/Construction has begun on an 85-unit affordable housing development in west St. Petersburg.
The building, named Bear Creek Commons, will be located on a 4.66-acre site at 635 64th Street South adjacent to Bear Creek, a 2.7 mile stream that flows to Boca Ciega Bay. The property was previously home to Grace Connection Church.
THE PROJECT IS PLANNED FOR A 4.66-ACRE SITE AT 635 64TH STREET SOUTH IN WEST ST. PETERSBURG.
The building is being developed by Blue Sky Communities, an affordable housing developer who most recently opened Skyway Lofts, a 65-unit affordable apartment complex in the Skyway Marina District of St. Pete. Due to overwhelming demand, a second phase of Skyway Lofts is in the works which will consist of an additional 66 apartments.
Bear Creek Commons will feature one four-story building. The building will consist of 46 one-bedroom, one-bathroom units and 39 two-bedroom, two-bathroom units. The project will also feature ample parking for vehicles and bicycles.
Nine of the apartments will cater to senior households making up to 30% of area median income (AMI) while the remaining 76 apartments will cater to senior households making up to 60% of AMI.
THE PROPERTY WAS PREVIOUSLY HOME TO GRACE CONNECTION CHURCH.
The road to the groundbreaking of Bear Creek Commons has not been easy for Blue Sky Communities. In August 2020, the developer sought to rezone the land to facilitate the project, which triggered backlash by neighborhood groups who said the building was out of scale with the surrounding areas.
Despite the opposition, St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved a rezoning and later approved the development in 2022 after a judge dismissed a lawsuit against the rezoning.
THE BUILDING WILL BE FOUR STORIES WITH A TRADITIONAL DESIGN WITH A STUCCO AND STONE FACADE.
The development’s groundbreaking is a significant step for Pinellas County’s affordable housing efforts.
IN ADDITION TO 85 SENIOR APARTMENTS, THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE 90 PARKING SPACES AND AMPLE BIKE PARKING.
Bear Creek Commons represents the first development to be funded by the Penny for Pinellas Affordable Housing Program, an $80 million initiative funded by the Penny for Pinellas sales tax, which was most recently approved by Pinellas voters in 2017.
Pinellas County has committed an estimated $80 million over the next decade to use with public and private investment for the development and preservation of affordable housing units. The project is also being supported with funding from the City of St. Petersburg.
Completion on Bear Creek Commons is expected in late 2024.
For more information on Bear Creek Commons, visit their website.
