Long-vacant lots within the Jamestown Apartments and Townhomes complex could feature additional affordable housing. All images: City documents.
Evolving plans to create additional affordable housing at a city-owned complex near downtown St. Petersburg are advancing. However, voters will have the final say.
A city council committee approved draft ballot language on Thursday that, if approved by residents in November, would enable officials to build affordable housing on nine vacant parcels surrounding the Jamestown Apartments and Townhomes site. The land is currently considered park space despite only featuring “No Trespassing” signs.
Any changes to the lots, which total 1.7 acres, will require a voter referendum. The city or selected developers could then create up to 37 additional affordable and workforce housing units at the site.
“There’s illegal dumping – there’s other issues that are happening on these lots,” said City Development Administrator James Corbett. “So, we realized that this was a fairly simple way to take the nine lots that are not being used as parks, and put them into a program where they could be quickly utilized for workforce and affordable housing.”
A graphic highlighting the parcels (yellow) that the city wants to remove from an outdated Parks and Waterfront Map. Unity Park is in green.
Jamestown opened at 1035 Burlington Ave. N. in 1976 and provides 76 recently renovated affordable housing units. Unity Park borders the complex and abuts 4th Avenue North and the I-375 offramp.
Aaron Fisch, director of real estate and property management, explained Jamestown’s convoluted land-use restrictions. An area redevelopment plan, established in 1982, required officials to implement buffer space throughout the 3.45-acre site.
The legally binding Parks & Waterfront Map, approved by voters in 1984, prevents the city from selling or developing the buffer parcels without a charter amendment, which requires a ballot referendum. Fisch said the lots, vacant for over 40 years, “should be integrated into the adjacent neighborhood.”
Officials once considered creating additional housing at Unity Park but shelved the idea in August 2025. “One of the concerns I have is that it’s always touchy when you ask our residents to approve the removal of park space,” said Councilmember Gina Driscoll.
“Immediately, their mind goes to what they think of as our traditional parks – not this,” she added. “How do we make sure voters know exactly what we’re talking about?”
Another large vacant lot within Jamestown. Developable land is scarce in St. Petersburg.
Assistant City Attorney Brett Pettigrew said he would incorporate photos showing that the lots are not part of the park into public notices. Officials could also host community forums and “push out information to anyone in the city we want.”
“We have options, but the greatest flexibility is now,” Pettigrew continued. “Once this becomes a ballot question, then our options are limited.”
The city will also highlight that the lots will become affordable and workforce housing rather than market-rate condominiums. Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. said officials should “overly communicate what we anticipate seeing there at that site.”
Givens also stressed the importance of quickly identifying project “allies.” He would “hate for residents and neighbors to try to oppose this in any way.”
Corbett said administrators would issue a request for proposals from developers for the five largest parcels if voters approve the referendum. That would include criteria for income thresholds and affordability levels.
Officials would place the four smaller lots in the city’s land disposition program. However, Councilmember Richie Floyd said the city should expand Jamestown and retain ownership of the property, as was discussed in a committee meeting last year.
“If that’s not contemplated as part of this, I’m not going to support it,” Floyd said. “I don’t think I can successfully motivate people to take city land and put it into private hands.”
Driscoll agreed that the city should maintain flexibility in its vision for the site. She also noted that some of the parcels could provide homeownership opportunities.
Corbett said the ballot language would only require officials to ensure that lots feature affordable or workforce housing. “We can own it, we can sell it, or we can have someone develop it and manage it.”
Floyd subsequently said that he felt more comfortable advocating for the land-use changes at Jamestown. The committee unanimously approved the draft ballot language, which will now head to the full city council for a vote.
A smaller lot in Jamestown that currently serves as “buffer space.”
Share Your News With Us
To share news with the Power Broker, email us at reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokermagazine.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube.
