Another challenge has been constructing the project while the church and a school on the campus remain fully operational.
“Normally, you’d shut down utilities and rip the site apart,” Corder said. “Here, we’ve had to carefully phase construction so the church can keep operating, parking remains available, and everyone stays safe.”
At peak construction, several dozen workers are expected to be on site. The all-concrete building will be fully hurricane resistant and built to modern energy efficiency standards.
Financing for Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary includes low-income housing tax credit equity, construction and permanent loans from Bank of America, and funding from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, State Housing Initiatives Partnership, Community Development Block Grant funds, and Pinellas County Housing Authority resources.
“This project shows the power of partnership,” said Chloe Firebaugh, chair of the Pinellas County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. “When faith-based organizations, public agencies, and developers work together, real solutions happen.”