$32 million affordable housing project in Clearwater to break ground
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jun 17, 2024

A $32 million affordable housing project in Clearwater is breaking ground on June 20.

Miami-based Archway Partners is transforming the site of a former dilapidated inn at 1260 Cleveland St. into an 81-unit affordable apartment community called Clearwater Gardens. The project will feature a four-story midrise apartment building.

The project is partly funded by the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency, Clearwater’s SHIP and HOME loans from the Economic Development and Housing Department.

“The city is proud to work with Archway Partners on the development of Clearwater Gardens,” Bruce Rector, mayor of Clearwater, said in a release. “This partnership will bring much-needed affordable housing to our downtown, helping to transform this once-neglected site into a modern complex that will revitalize the area and reduce the financial barriers faced by low-income individuals seeking to live in Clearwater.”

There will be 52 one-bedroom/one-bathroom units, eight two-bedroom/one-bathroom units and 21 two-bedroom/two-bathroom units. The apartments will range from 605 square feet to 929 square feet and will provide housing for those making between 30% and 80% of the area median income.

The community will have various amenities, including a multipurpose community room for resident programs and catering, a library, fitness center, coworking space, tech lab and a children’s game room. There will also be a resident community garden adjacent to the existing community garden on the site’s northeast corner.

Once construction begins, the project is expected to take 18 months to complete. The building is expected to receive a National Green Building Standard certification.

“This development represents a collaborative effort between the private sector and many government agencies, all united in the mission to provide more affordable housing for the residents of Clearwater and Pinellas County,” said Brett Green, president of Archway Partners.

Archway Partners has several projects across Tampa Bay, including the Seminole Square Apartments in Largo and the Casa-Bel-Mar project in South Tampa. The group will soon break ground on Flats on 4th, an 80-unit affordable housing project in St. Pete, in the first quarter of 2025.