Demand for affordable housing continues to outpace supply across St. Petersburg, putting pressure on redevelopment proposals to demonstrate delivery rather than intent.<\/p>\n
Blake Investment Partners says its St. Petersburg 3.0 vision is designed to meet that test.<\/p>\n
The firm\u2019s housing strategy is tied to the Historic Gas Plant District<\/a>, a 95.5-acre redevelopment site that includes Tropicana Field and is currently under review by the City of St. Petersburg as part of competing multibillion-dollar proposals.<\/p>\n In a recent St. Petersburg 3.0 video, Blake reaffirmed plans to deliver what it describes as the largest affordable and workforce-housing commitment tied to a single redevelopment effort in the city\u2019s history. <\/p>\n The approach pairs on-site affordability within the Gas Plant District<\/a> with additional housing investments across St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n To execute the plan, Blake has partnered with Blue Sky Communities, a Florida-based affordable and workforce housing developer with more than five decades of experience in the region.<\/p>\n A redevelopment model tied to housing delivery<\/p>\n St. Petersburg 3.0 is framed as a long-term redevelopment approach that prioritizes affordability, economic opportunity and sustained community benefit while acknowledging the site\u2019s history.<\/p>\n Under the plan, Blake Investment Partners intends to deliver income-restricted and attainable housing both within the Gas Plant District and through additional projects citywide. <\/p>\n READ: TAMPA BAY BUSINESS NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n The structure is meant to extend housing access beyond the boundaries of a single redevelopment site.<\/p>\n \u201cCommitments to affordable housing don\u2019t mean anything unless you have a team in place to actually get it done,\u201d said Scott McDonald, principal at Blue Sky Communities. \u201cOur family of companies has been building affordable housing in St. Petersburg since the early 1970s and across Florida, we\u2019ve helped develop more than 3,000 homes. At our core, we believe every person deserves a safe, affordable place to live.\u201d<\/p>\n Partnering for scale and accountability<\/p>\n Blue Sky Communities brings decades of experience delivering income-restricted housing under federal and state affordability programs. <\/p>\n The firm has worked with local governments, housing authorities and public funding agencies across Florida.<\/p>\n Blake Investment Partners said the partnership is intended to combine national development capacity with local execution and long-term accountability.<\/p>\n