A rendering of the Archway Clearwater Gardens affordable housing complex, proposed for Cleveland Street, Clearwater. (Credit: Clearwater CRA)
A long-awaited affordable housing complex that is poised to receive millions of dollars of loans and subsidies will begin construction later this year and have tenants signed to leases in 2026 under a new timeline framework adopted by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency, or CRA. The four story, modern complex will replace an empty lot that current exists at the site, and has received support from community groups who have lobbied for increased affordable housing opportunities city-wide.
The location of the proposed Archway Clearwater Gardens housing complex, Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
Archway Partners, the developer of the Archway Clearwater Gardens complex proposed for at 1250 Cleveland Street, entered into a fourth amended agreement with the city and its CRA that lengthens the timelines of several deadlines associated with the project. Archway Clearwater Gardens, the holding company for Archway Partners, first agreed to purchase the property from the city and develop it with an affordable housing complex of at least 80 units. An amendment to that plan later authorized a $3 million loan to the developer, and increased the city’s contribution to the project from $75,000 to $610,000. A later amendment lengthened several milestone deadlines, as does the latest agreement between the parties that was authorized last month.
Under the new schedule for development, permits that were required to be obtained by March 1 will have their deadline extended to June 1, 2024, with construction being required to commence by July 1, 2024. Initially, construction was required to begin in April. The complex must be half-completed by April 1, 2025 and fully completed by Jan. 1, 2026. Pre-leasing will begin in November 2025 and leasing should be completed by April 1, 2026.
The new pact between the parties calls for a closing on the land conveyance by June 15, 2024.
The location of the proposed Archway Clearwater Gardens housing complex, Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
The location of the proposed Archway Clearwater Gardens housing complex, Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
The location of the proposed Archway Clearwater Gardens housing complex, Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
Denise Sanderson, Director of Economic Development and Housing for the city, said the latest amendment to the plan – and the second aimed at extending deadlines – came due to permitting hold-ups.
“Delays within the federal agencies have really put us into a position where we have to modify the timelines of this project,” said Sanderson.
Archway Clearwater Gardens will contain 81 units of designated affordable housing. It is coordinating with the Clearwater Housing Authority to receive 20 project-base vouchers, and has pledged to continue the operation of the community garden located on the property. The complex, which will be owned by the developer, will be divided between 52 one-bedroom and 29 two-bedroom units. The revised agreement solidifies plans to maintain the community garden at the site, requiring Archway to provide a perpetual easement that will allow public enjoyment of the garden.
The location of the proposed Archway Clearwater Gardens housing complex, Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
“Archway is optimistic that they will achieve the modified milestones in advance of what has been proposed and no further extensions will be necessary,” Sanderson said.
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