TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Construction has begun on a multi-story student housing complex on West Gaines Street that features 804 beds and a plethora of amenities, according to a press release.
Hoar Construction, the general contractor on the $100 million project with Park 7 Group as the developer, said construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2028.
The Downtown Redevelopment Commission (DRC) voted last summer to grant Park7 Group a $238,000 tax break for the construction of the project. DRC members were split on the decision.
The Community Redevelopment Agency, overseen by Tallahassee city commissioners and the mayor, signed off on the break.
By the time the CRA sunsets in 2034, the owner is expected to see a $1.4 million total tax break.
The multi-story apartment, affectionately named Icon Tallahassee, is expected to have both one-bedroom and five-bedroom layouts. Officials said the complex will also have a club room, study lounges, below-grade parking, bike and scooter storage, and a fitness and yoga studio.
The contractor said Icon Tallahassee is expected to be one of the tallest buildings and will feature a rooftop deck lounge with views of Doak Campbell Stadium.
More Tallahassee news:
The construction group said they are “carefully” establishing their construction schedule to balance pedestrian safety and efficient project development.
Construction materials are expected to be delivered with good timing to ensure less congestion and safe movement of equipment, according to a release.
The Hoar Construction Project Executive, Eric Brown, said there’s a growing demand for student housing at major universities.
“Icon Tallahassee will deliver a modern, amenity-rich living environment for Florida State University students while further expanding Hoar’s footprint across Florida. We’re excited to collaborate with Park7 on a project that will have a lasting impact on the campus community,” Brown said in a release.
The project is expected to be developed at 730 Gaines Street, according to previous reporting.
This photo shared on the BKV Group website shows the nine-story student housing complex development and the surrounding buildings.(BKV Group)
Tallahassee is facing a housing shortage, with the need for 23,000 new homes or apartments by 2050. However, local governments have generally established rules against giving tax breaks or incentives for student-specific housing.
While the developer said the project is for “multifamily” apartments, critics say it has the same tell-tale signs of student housing like the clubhouse and study space.
“It feels like we’re going against our own rules,” Kelley Bailey, a DRC committee member, said at the time. “I don’t know how I feel about this, but I am a rule follower.”
CRA Executive Director Stephen Cox previously said that while the developer had been referring to the project as “student housing,” they will allow other tenants. Cox explained that the CRA had previously decided that student housing projects can “take care of themselves.”
When asked by DRC Commissioner Christian Caban, who also serves as a county commissioner, Erin Tilton, a lawyer representing the developer, confirmed the complex would rent to others. She did not say, though, whether residents were required to have roommates.
However, Tilton previously said the project would generate $2.1 million in “public benefit components,” meaning the tax break was merely an investment by local government to get the project off the ground.
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.