ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete City leaders are considering a plan to create more affordable housing units in the city. They have already considered waiving impact fees for developers, but now they are considering something even more heavy-handed. There is a proposal to make developers of new, expensive units, help pay for affordable units.
"The developer would pay the fee, that would go into a housing trust fund and that would go into a fund for affordable housing,” said Neighborhood Services Administrator Rob Gerdes.
Malcolm Irving believes there is an affordable housing shortage in the city.
“It’s hard to get an apartment these days in this area,” said Irving.
St. Pete city leaders estimate 40-percent of residents are using 30-percent of their income to pay rent.
“This is an important issue for us to work on,” said Gerdes.
St. Petersburg City Council members could vote on the new development fee by the end of this year.
