64 affordable homes for veterans under construction in Seminole
- A groundbreaking ceremony for Valor Preserve took place Friday, April 14, with Pinellas County, Norstar Development USA, the Pinellas County Housing Authority and other partners
- The development located at 9575 Seminole Boulevard will offer 64 affordable units, with half set aside for people with disabilities and preference to veteran applicants
A new fully affordable development on Lake Seminole that will provide 64 apartment homes to people with disabilities, particularly for veterans, is now under construction in Seminole.
Pinellas County officials joined developer Norstar Development USA, the Pinellas County Housing Authority and a host of other partners who are supporting the new apartments at a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 14.
“Here in Pinellas County, we are committed to supporting homes that are affordable, especially for the people who serve our community. Few people have served our community and nation with as great a sacrifice as our veterans,” said Pinellas County Commission Vice Chair Kathleen Peters.
“Valor Preserve will provide these men and women with a safe, quality home where they can build a good, stable life.”
The new community located at 9575 Seminole Boulevard will offer 58 one-bedroom and 6 two-bedroom apartments in one- and two-story buildings designed in the style of Key West bungalows. Half of the units will be set aside for people with disabilities and the entire development will favor veteran applicants. Construction is expected to be completed by spring 2024.
All apartments will be reserved for renters making no more than 60 percent of the Area Median Income, which is $34,500 annually for an individual and $39,420 annually for two-person households.
The Pinellas County Housing Authority will be releasing application details in early 2024. For updates, www.pinellashousing.com.
As a leader of the Advantage Pinellas Housing Compact, Pinellas County Government is supporting Valor Preserve with $1.7 million in local funds from the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program. Financing for the project was also made possible through support from Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments, TIAA Bank, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, The Home Depot Foundation and land acquisition funds from the Pinellas County Housing Authority.
Valor Preserve is the latest successful public-private partnership supported by the Housing Compact, an agreement by local governments to create lasting solutions for countywide housing.
Pinellas County and city partners support preservation, rehabilitation and new construction of homes that bring more affordability to the market by using a mix of federal, state and local funding sources.
In 2022 alone, Pinellas County and city partners supported creation of 1,100 affordable homes that were completed, under construction or approved for funding.
About the Advantage Pinellas Housing Compact
Pinellas County has partnered with Forward Pinellas and several municipalities in a countywide housing compact aimed at increasing housing at all income levels linked to transportation, jobs, schools, workforce development, and other services.
On April 28, compact partners will convene for the Homes for Pinellas Summit to launch a countywide Housing Action Plan, laying out steps to create even more housing choices that are attainable to people across the county.
Learn more about the Housing Compact at www.homesforpinellas.org.