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Big Bend Area May Get Workforce Housing

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By LIZ BLEAU, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

RIVERVIEW - A Tampa developer is seeking to rezone 39 acres on Bullfrog Creek Road to build a $46.5 million workforce housing apartment complex of 336 units.

Questus Capital LLC plans to build SouthShore Apartment Homes that will be designated workforce housing, that is, housing that is affordable to essential workers such as police, fire personnel, teachers, health-care and utility workers, said spokesman and partner, Alex Harden.

The project would set aside 134 units for those workers and others meeting the income guidelines; under the formula to qualify, a family of four would have income of $53,900 annually. Market rents would apply to the remainder of the units.

Harden said the project would be built with private capital and that the developer was not seeking government subsidies.

Asked why the developer is interested in setting aside units for lower-income tenants, he said the company "believes in the principle of faith through works. There is a need in the South Shore area for quality housing for essential service workers, including those employed by the nearby power plant, desalination plant and the more than 12 public schools within a 5-mile radius of the project."

The project is in the Big Bend Road area, which has been designated in the comprehensive plan as a regional activity center. The area has many new shops and services and will be getting a regional outdoor shopping mall and a 1.3 million-square-foot business park.

The complex would also have a 6,000-square-foot community center with swimming pool, exercise room, computer lab and entertainment facilities.

In addition to the rezoning, the developer is seeking a parking variance, from the required two parking spaces per dwelling unit to 1.8 spaces per unit. Reducing the number of parking spaces will mean the company can increase the number of affordable housing units, the application states.

Public hearings for the rezoning are scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 14 before the zoning hearing master and Feb. 26 before the county commission.

Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib.com.

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