The St. Petersburg Housing Authority has announced the completion of The Legacy at Jordan Park, a new construction 60-unit affordable senior housing building, along with the completion of renovations to the Jordan Park affordable family housing complex. Completion of the project returns much needed affordable housing units to south St. Pete.

Built between 1939 and 1941, Jordan Park is the oldest federal public housing project in Florida and was named after African American developer Elder Jordan Sr. Jordan was a prominent African American businessman and civic activist. He built the Jordan dance hall, now named the Manhattan Casino, and donated the land used to build the original Jordan Park housing development.

Jordan Park has undergone several renovations and refurbishments over the years, most notably in 2000 when much of the community was demolished and subsequently rebuilt.

In 2022, the St. Petersburg Housing Authority broke ground on the community’s recent project which included the construction of The Legacy at Jordan Park which includes 54 one-bedroom units and six two-bedroom units that cater to seniors ages 62+.

"We are so excited to have the grand opening of this long-awaited affordable housing redevelopment in Jordan Park. The Legacy at Jordan Park will provide 60 brand-new handicap-adaptable units to low-income seniors in need of affordable housing - a true legacy for the community," said Michael Lundy, President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority.

The new construction building is located at 2350 9th Avenue South and sits adjacent to the existing Carter G. Woodson African American Museum. Community amenities in The Legacy at Jordan Park include a pickleball court, three community activity rooms, two community balconies, an exercise room, a game room, and bike storage.  

The Legacy at Jordan Park was designed by Robert Reid Wedding Architects and developed by Norstar Development USA, LP. The general contractor was NSBF, LLC.

The project also substantially renovated the remaining 206 units in the Jordan Park family housing complex. Among these units are six one-bedroom units, 105 two-bedroom units, 90 three-bedroom units, and five four-bedroom units. In total, the renovated Jordan Park community has 266 units.

"The redevelopment of Jordan Park has been a number one priority and we are thrilled to unveil this landmark addition to the community," said Commissioner James Dates, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. 

The newly renovated units at Jordan Park have green building features including programable thermostats, Energy Star appliances and windows, eco-friendly cabinets, low-flow water fixtures, and Energy Star ceiling fans in all bedrooms and living areas.  The renovations also include two new community playgrounds with grills and bike repair stations, a pavilion with two new picnic benches, and new LED lighting in the park areas.

Rental rates at Jordan Park are income-restricted with 15% of the units dedicated to households making below 30% of the area median income (AMI) while the remaining 85% cater to households making below 60% of AMI.

The project was funded through a combination of loans, long-term bonds, Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and a contribution from the City of St. Petersburg. Funding partners included the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Finance Authority, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, RBC Capital Markets, and Key Bank.

For more information, visit the St. Petersburg Housing Authority’s website.