St. Petersburg Housing: New 75-Unit Senior Complex Opens

Eleven years passed between signing the ground lease and holding the grand opening for Burlington Post II. The new affordable housing community is now officially open at 3295 Burlington Ave N. in St. Petersburg.

The five-story building contains 75 units designed for seniors with incomes between 22% and 80% of the Area Median Income. Green Mills Group, a Fort Lauderdale-based developer, built the project. Construction began two years ago, and residents started moving in about a month before the celebration.

Oscar Sol, a founder of Green Mills Group, told the Catalyst that the site was formerly a post office parking lot. He said securing funding took a long time because resources for affordable housing are highly competitive. The company initially planned to use competitive state funding. Later, the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County provided local dollars. This allowed the developers to use a different financing package that relied on local funds and low-income housing tax credits.

The City of St. Petersburg contributed approximately $5.8 million to the project. Pinellas County provided $3.75 million. The Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County issued $16 million in tax-exempt housing revenue bonds. Other funding providers also participated in the financial structure.

Mitch Rosenstein, the other Green Mills Group founder, described the construction site as tight. He said the team worked closely with the city to ensure the project was feasible. He noted that layering the various financing sources created legal and underwriting complexities. The building includes a fitness center, community outdoor space, a game room, and 24/7 security.

This is Green Mills Group's third community in St. Petersburg and fifth in the region. Rosenstein said the company hopes to build more. The neighboring Burlington Post I welcomed its first residents in 2018.

Local leaders attended the ceremony to speak about the project's impact. St. Petersburg City Council Chair Lisset Hanewicz said it has become much more difficult for older adults to find safe and affordable housing in the bay area. She described the development as an opportunity for seniors to live with dignity. Pinellas County Commissioner René Flowers said the project allows residents to avoid choosing between medications, food, and rent. Robyn Bryan, a resident, said she is grateful for the affordable housing and happy to stay in the community.