City breaks ground on 40-unit townhome community

ST. PETERSBURG —The city of St. Petersburg recently celebrated the groundbreaking of Pelican Place, a 40-unit affordable townhome community at 2100 18th Ave. S. All units will be sold through Habitat for Humanity’s homebuyer program to households earning 80% area median income or less.

The property, valued at $1.43 million, was gifted by the city to Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside in November 2024. The city also contributed an additional $2.18 million in funding, bringing the city’s total financial commitment for this project to more than $3.6 million.

Construction is planned to begin this month and take about two years to complete. The development will feature two-story townhomes, consisting of 10 two-bedroom and 30 three-bedroom units with a median sales price of $300,000. Those interested in learning more or applying for ownership can visit info.habitattbg.org/townhome.

$1 million pump facility to reduce Shore Acres flooding

ST. PETERSBURG — The St. Petersburg City Council approved a grant agreement on Dec. 11 with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project, investing an additional $1 million into the flood relief project.

The project includes construction of new stormwater infrastructure such as box culverts, a stormwater pump station, backflow preventers, and elevation of roadway segments and intersections.

The project will also acquire a parcel of land to house an emergency power facility equipped with a generator-powered pump. This facility will support flood mitigation efforts and ensure essential stormwater operations continue during power outages. The additional $1 million will be used to purchase the generator and the necessary startup components.

The total cost of the flood mitigation project is estimated at more than $30.8 million, with $7.8 million funded through an existing FDEP grant awarded to the city in 2023. The additional $1 million is also funded through an FDEP grant.

Pinellas Park named 2025 ‘Tree City’

The city of Pinellas Park has been named a 2025 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, recognizing the city’s commitment to responsible and effective urban forest management.

Pinellas Park earned the designation by meeting all four program standards:

• Maintaining a dedicated tree board or department

• Upholding a tree-care ordinance

• Sustaining an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita

• Hosting an Arbor Day observance and issuing an official proclamation

Pinellas Park is one of 11 Pinellas County municipalities to earn this designation.

“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Pinellas Park are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Participation in this program brings residents together and fosters civic pride — whether through volunteer projects, educational efforts, or community involvement.”

Tierra Verde resident elected to Alzheimer’s board

ST. PETERSBURG — The Alzheimer’s Association has elected Tracy Hayes of Tierra Verde to its national Board of Directors.

Hayes joins the 25-member, volunteer governing board in steering the strategic direction of the Association as it carries out its mission to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

Hayes recently retired as vice president of sales at Cigna Healthcare, concluding a 40-year career in the health care industry. At Cigna, she led strategy development for the company’s employee benefits division in Florida.

Since retiring, Hayes has dedicated her time to volunteer leadership, serving on the board of the Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter.

Hayes first became involved with the Alzheimer’s Association following her mother’s death from the disease. She now serves as a care partner to her husband, Thomas, who was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in 2024.

Hayes will serve a two-year term.

City opens applications for disaster recovery funds

ST. PETERSBURG — City officials are now accepting applications for the Sunrise St. Pete disaster recovery funds.

St. Petersburg received $159.8 million in disaster recovery funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support long-term recovery efforts from hurricanes Idalia and Helene. These funds will be used to rebuild homes, provide rental and mortgage assistance, restore critical infrastructure, and address other urgent community needs.

“This funding is designed to address remaining need after all other assistance has been exhausted, so please apply if you think you may be eligible,” said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. “The city is here to support our residents and our community through this long-term recovery process.”

Homeowners and tenants may apply for the following types of assistance through the Sunrise St. Pete program:

• Rehabilitation, reconstruction, and elevation assistance

• Reimbursement for repair

• Disaster relief payments

Applicants will apply for Sunrise St. Pete assistance through a single application portal. Applicants will be matched with the assistance that best meets their needs based on each household’s unique circumstances.

Residents can apply online by visiting https://tinyurl.com/4ak7xwpt. Residents can also apply in-person at a Sunrise St. Pete intake and service center Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.

•1914 Fourth St. N., Suite 1920

• 1111 18th Ave. S.

Residents can contact 727-591-2990 or sunrise@stpete.org with questions on the application process. More information can be found at SunriseStPete.org.

‘Level Up’ grants available for arts, culture groups

ST. PETERSBURG — The city of St. Petersburg has launched the Level Up Arts Grant for nonprofit arts and culture organizations with budgets of $50,000 or less. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 30, 2026, or until funds are depleted.

Level Up Arts Grants will provide operational or project-based funding for allowable expenses of arts/cultural organizations during the specified fiscal year. Proposals will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are expended.

Award amounts are $5,000 each.

For more information and to apply, visit https://tinyurl.com/uzke2sap

‘YIGBY’ code lets churches add housing

ST. PETERSBURG — The City Council has approved an ordinance adopting the ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’

provision into city code, which empowers the city to work with local faith communities to expedite and increase opportunities to build affordable housing.

St. Petersburg is the first local government in the state to adopt this provision following the passage of SB 1730 by the 2025 Legislature.

“The city of St. Petersburg advocated for the ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ ordinance because we believe that it takes an innovative, comprehensive approach to tackle the affordable housing crisis. I’m proud to announce that St. Pete is leading the way statewide in instituting this provision, but our work on this issue is just getting started,” said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch.

In approving the measure, the mayor and council said that churches often hold “underutilized” property that could be used for housing.

“Across Florida, many faith-based groups own well-located, underutilized land that could be transformed into desperately needed affordable homes,” the city said in a press release. “Recognizing this potential, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 1730, giving localities a new discretionary tool that empowers religious institutions to meet their communities’ housing needs by building homes in their own backyards.”

The city’s Office of Community Impact will work with interested church groups to offer “feasible development pathways” as well as direct technical assistance such as screening sites, helping with predevelopment planning and advising on partner selection.