Ground broken for Lealman Heights near Lealman Elementary
Construction has started on a Habitat for Humanity community in St. Petersburg that aims to add 26 two-story townhomes targeted to lower- and moderate-income households. The development, called Lealman Heights, is sited at 4000 58th Avenue North, directly across from Lealman Elementary School in Pinellas County.
The project will include units measuring about 1,500 square feet with three bedrooms and an attached garage. Prices for qualified buyers are expected to range between $240,000 and $280,000, with the final price determined by household income under Habitat for Humanity’s program rules.
How the model works and who it will serve
Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside is the developer. Under Habitat’s homeownership requirements, prospective homeowners must contribute at least 100 hours of sweat equity, complete homeowner education courses and meet a minimum credit score threshold of 620. Homes will be reserved for households with incomes between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income (AMI).
"Lealman Heights is expected to yield 26 two-story townhomes."
Pinellas County has committed $2.29 million to the venture and has placed the property into a community land trust to lock in affordability for decades. Total project costs are estimated at $10 million. Vertical construction is expected to begin in summer 2027, with completion slated for the following year.
Design, partners and timeline
Design and engineering work is being handled by G2 Design and High Point Engineering, respectively. The project’s timeline, as reported, anticipates site work this year with homes rising in 2027 and occupancy the year after. That schedule reflects a phased approach many affordable-housing projects follow: secure funding and land, clear entitlement and then move to vertical construction.
- Units: 26 townhomes
- Size: ~1,500 sq ft; 3 bedrooms; garage
- Price range: $240,000–$280,000, income-dependent
- Funding: $10 million total; $2.29 million from Pinellas County
- Affordability: Reserved for households at 30%–80% AMI; property placed in community land trust
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 4000 58th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33714 |
| Developer | Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside |
| Estimated cost | $10 million |
| County contribution | $2.29 million |
For St. Petersburg residents, the project represents a localized response to the region’s ongoing housing affordability pressures. Lealman, a community long associated with lower incomes compared with other parts of the city, has seen multiple housing initiatives in recent years. The community land trust component is particularly notable: by separating ownership of the land from ownership of the homes, the trust aims to keep resale prices affordable for future buyers.
While the development will add only a few dozen homes relative to the scale of the county’s housing needs, it also carries a broader policy signal: a mix of public dollars, nonprofit development and long-term affordability tools can produce homes for buyers priced out of the private market. For households that qualify for Habitat’s program, the combination of down-payment assistance through pricing tied to income, required sweat equity and homeowner training is intended to promote stable, long-term ownership.
Construction timing and the final buyer qualifications will be determined as the project moves through permitting and vertical construction phases. Residents and prospective applicants can expect additional local outreach from Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside and Pinellas County as the project approaches the next stages.
