ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — City housing officials are hoping to help people who are still recovering after their property was damaged in hurricanes Helene or Idalia, through an addition to the Sunrise St. Pete program.
One of the suggestions made by the Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee is for the city of St. Petersburg to consider offering to buy property that was damaged by hurricane flooding, if owners agree to sell.
“How we can keep people sustainable in the City of St Petersburg, I think, should be our top priority,” said councilwoman Brandi Gabbard in a Jan 15th discussion.
The suggestion hasn’t made it to the council yet.
The committee suggested using 5-million dollars as part of the Sunrise St. Pete program, to buy either commercial or residential property that sits in a flood zone.
They would offer up to 400-thousand dollars for properties to convert the areas for recreation or flood mitigation.
The committee also suggested incentives to encourage people to move into less flood prone areas, but some committee members were hesitant about the suggestion.
“Dollars that are being spent here in the City of St Petersburg to help St Petersburg residents. I would like to find ways – if at all possible to keep them as St. Petersburg residents.”
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