The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Fairfield, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services

Eco-friendly & clean work area.

PDCA Certified Member.

Your Go-To House Painting Company in Fairfield, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More

Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.

Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Fairfield, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More

The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Fairfield, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses

We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:

01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.


03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.


05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Latest News in Fairfield, FL
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Tallahassee, Florida Completes an Extensive Overhaul
LBA Hospitalityhttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fairfield-inn--suites-by-marriott-in-tallahassee-florida-completes-an-extensive-overhaul-301538563.html
Updated Rooms and Public Spaces Completely Enhances the Overall Guest Experience TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LBA Hospitality, an Alabama–based hotel management company, today announced the 97-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Tallahassee Central has completed renovations to its guest rooms and public spaces. The newly refreshed hotel, located at 2997 Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee, Florida, is owned by Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia, and managed by ...
Updated Rooms and Public Spaces Completely Enhances the Overall Guest Experience
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LBA Hospitality, an Alabama–based hotel management company, today announced the 97-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Tallahassee Central has completed renovations to its guest rooms and public spaces. The newly refreshed hotel, located at 2997 Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee, Florida, is owned by Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia, and managed by LBA Hospitality. The renovation includes new carpeting, wall vinyl, paint, and sofa-sleepers in the guest rooms and new carpeting in the public areas, as well as new seating in the lobby and breakfast area.
"The renovation for this location is inspiring, offering a fresh new look for our guests," said Farrah Adams, COO of LBA Hospitality. "The hotel's convenient location offers guests a central point for all their needs when traveling to Tallahassee for both business and leisure."
The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Tallahassee Central is located approximately 10 miles from the Tallahassee International Airport and offers guests convenient access to Florida State University, Florida A&M University, the Florida State Capitol and numerous shopping, dining and entertainment options in nearby downtown Tallahassee.
Each guest room at the four-story, down-home Southern charm hotel includes soft bedding, fluffy pillows, complimentary WiFi and Smart-TVs with Netflix and Hulu streaming capabilities. Additional hotel amenities include a fitness center, an indoor swimming pool, a meeting room and a complimentary hot breakfast featuring oatmeal, cereal, fruit, assorted yogurts and toppings, scones, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, and additional hot healthy egg options.
For more information or to contact the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Tallahassee Central please call directly at 850-210-1210, or visit www.marriott.com/tlhec.
About LBA HospitalityEstablished in 1973, LBA Hospitality is one of the leading hotel management, development, and consulting companies in the US. With an extensive portfolio of hotels located in the Southeast and Southwest, the company is a recognized leader developing and operating the most respected brands under franchise licenses of Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and InterContinental Hotel Group. For more than four decades, LBA Hospitality has continued to set a higher standard in hotel development, management, and guest satisfaction, resulting in sustained, profitable growth for owners. For more information, visit www.lbahospitality.com.
About Fairfield by MarriottFairfield by Marriott is designed to provide guests with all the comforts of home while they are on the road. Placing emphasis on the beauty of simplicity, Fairfield builds upon its strong heritage and traditions from the Marriott family retreat, the Fairfield Farm, creating an environment that focuses on the warmth and simplicity of delivering an inviting and seamless experience for its guests. In addition to complimentary Wi-Fi and a hot breakfast for all guests, Fairfield offers thoughtfully designed rooms and suites with separate living, working and sleeping areas that are comfortable and inviting. Founded on the principles of warm hospitality and family treatment, Fairfield's philosophy and level of service are built on making sure that every guest's stay is a seamless experience, which continues to be backed by The Fairfield Guarantee.
Contact:Judy CluckVice President of Sales and MarketingLarry Blumberg & Associates, Inc.678-977-8316 judyc@lbaproperties.com
SOURCE LBA Hospitality
New hotel in Florida City sells for $22M
Brian Bandellhttps://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2022/05/11/new-hotel-in-florida-city-sells-for-22m.html
The year-old Fairfield Inn & Suites Homestead Florida City sold for $21.5 million.Florida City Hospitality LLC, managed by Chirag B. Desai of Miami-based Baywood Hotels, sold the 132-room hotel at 60 S.W. 352nd St. to 60 SW 352 Street Owner LP, in care of Irving, Texas-based hospitality firm Highgate Capital Investments. Parlex 14 Finco, in care of Blackstone, provided a $17.6 million...
The year-old Fairfield Inn & Suites Homestead Florida City sold for $21.5 million.
Florida City Hospitality LLC, managed by Chirag B. Desai of Miami-based Baywood Hotels, sold the 132-room hotel at 60 S.W. 352nd St. to 60 SW 352 Street Owner LP, in care of Irving, Texas-based hospitality firm Highgate Capital Investments. Parlex 14 Finco, in care of Blackstone, provided a $17.6 million mortgage to the buyer.
The price equated to $162,879 a room.
Situated on a 2.9-acre site between Krome Avenue and U.S. 1, the hotel totals 84,500 square feet in six stories. It is right at the gateway to the Florida Keys, where hotels are considerably more expansive than in Florida City.
With tourism bouncing back strong in the Florida Keys, the hotel in Florida City provides a cost-effective alternative to staying on the island chain. There’s also been a population boom in the Florida City/Homestead area and that often leads to more family and business travel.
According to Daryl Cronk with hotel analytics company STR, the southern Miami-Dade County submarket that includes Florida City had a 79% occupancy rate in the first quarter, up from 62% in the year-ago quarter. The average daily rate increased to $178.09, from $110.82. That was actually higher than the 75% occupancy rate in the Miami Beach submarket in the first quarter, although it has higher room rates than Florida City.
Highgate has over 87,500 hotel rooms under management in the United States, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.
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Ranked by Number of guest rooms
Rank | Hotel | Number of guest rooms |
---|---|---|
1 | Fontainebleau Miami Beach | 1,504 |
2 | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood | 1,271 |
3 | The Boca Raton | 1,047 |
View This List |
A St. Petersburg lumber yard will soon have affordable housing
Tampa Bay Timeshttps://www.tampabay.com/news/real-estate/2022/05/12/a-st-petersburg-lumber-yard-will-soon-have-affordable-housing/
The site is close to downtown, beaches, shopping centers, Gibbs High School and the Pinellas Trail.The site of a lumberyard in St. Petersburg is being converted for affordable housing.HP Capital Group, a real estate firm in St. Petersburg, plans to build 264 apartments along 34th Street S just north off the Pinellas Trail thanks to a new state law that expands zoning for the development of affordable housing, the developers said.In 2020, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1339 which allows lots designated for resi...
The site is close to downtown, beaches, shopping centers, Gibbs High School and the Pinellas Trail.
The site of a lumberyard in St. Petersburg is being converted for affordable housing.
HP Capital Group, a real estate firm in St. Petersburg, plans to build 264 apartments along 34th Street S just north off the Pinellas Trail thanks to a new state law that expands zoning for the development of affordable housing, the developers said.
In 2020, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1339 which allows lots designated for residential, commercial or industrial zoning to be used for affordable housing. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law that summer.
The Fairfield Apartments project would be one of the first examples of the new law put into action. The site, at 3300 Fairfield Ave. S, is currently a lumber yard under Tibbetts Lumber. There may be 15 industrial sites in St. Petersburg that are eligible to be converted to affordable housing, according to the city.
The lumber yard is ideal for an affordable housing project because it’s close to downtown, beaches, shopping centers and is near Gibbs High School and the popular bike trail, said developer Fred Hemmer of HP Capital Group, who also noted the need for affordable housing as Tampa Bay leads the nation in rising rent prices.
“Our focus is that affordable housing has to be many different types of housing and in different places. It can’t all be centered in one area of the city. Affordable needs are all over,” said Nick Hansen, a partner at HP Capital Group. “These laws and new ordinances give us that flexibility.”
HP Capital Group is led by Hansen, Hemmer and Angelo Cappelli. The company has several projects around Tampa Bay,such as Reflection by St. Petersburg’s Mirror Lake and the First Avenue Apartments in the Edge District.
The Fairfields Apartments will be three buildings of apartments at fixed rates for households with low to moderate incomes. About 20 percent of the units will be reserved for people who make under 50 percent of the area median income. About 25 percent will be for those who make under 80 percent, and 55 percent is set to go to people making below 120 percent.
“It’s one of the better housing projects that we’ve seen coming through City Council. The [percentage of area median income] that was chosen for affordability is something that we’ve been asking for,” said Brother John Muhammad, a lead organizer with racial justice advocacy group Florida Rising.
Rents in the area haven’t spiked in the neighborhood as much as the rest of the region, said Muhammad, a St. Petersburg native. “And we want to keep it that way.”
Florida Rising hosted a rally outside the Fairfield Apartments site on May 1 for May Day to recognize the rights of workers and the rising costs of living in the area. Muhammad said they chose that location as an example of what’s possible. He said he hopes the city can make more use of old industrial sites for housing.
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The developers said they expect to start construction by the end of the year. It would take up to 16 months to build. Initial designs called for a podium parking garage, but because of supply chain issues and inflation, they said they scrapped it for surface parking that was cheaper.
Amenities will include a community pool, meeting and conference rooms, a bike corral and repair workshop, a computer lab, and green spaces with picnic and barbecue pavilions.
Cappelli said they’re also looking at other sites around the area that would be eligible for affordable housing and expects other Florida cities to expand their zonings under the new state law.
“We’re hoping this inspires other municipalities in Florida to follow suit,” Cappelli said.
Some community advocates want the new law to be used not only by private companies but for public use. St. Petersburg Tenants Union organizer William Kilgore said he worries that many developers and some nonprofits aren’t incentivized to maintain affordable housing projects and will cut corners to save costs. There should be more housing under public management, he said.
While adding more projects can be helpful, Kilgore said it’s frustrating for many tenants who pay rising rents when there’s plenty of homes in the area that are empty for most of the year because an investor or second-home buyer owns them.
“The city should have a much bigger effort to try combating the issue of investors buying up homes and taking housing out of the market,” Kilgore said. “Make it public and guarantee it as a home.”
Muhammad said he hopes St. Petersburg uses the new law to be creative in industrial corridors like Childs Park, as long as the sites are inspected for safety, don’t take away jobs and create housing that’s permanently affordable. Projects like the Fairfield Apartments helps, but he said there’s more to be done.
“We understand what the need is and it far exceeds what that one project will be able to bring,” he said.
Another 270 Affordable Homes Approved By Pinellas Commission
Tarpon Springs, FL Patchhttps://patch.com/florida/tarponsprings/pinellas-county-commission-approves-funding-another-270-affordable-homes
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Eagle Ridge affordable housing community in Tarpon Springs is set for May 18.PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Tarpon Springs Housing Authority and developer Norstar are hosting a ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday, May 18, at 11 a.m. to celebrate last year's successful opening of Eagle Ridge, a 71-unit affordable apartment community.The development, located at 721 Mango Circle, was supported in part through Pinellas...
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Eagle Ridge affordable housing community in Tarpon Springs is set for May 18.
PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Tarpon Springs Housing Authority and developer Norstar are hosting a ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday, May 18, at 11 a.m. to celebrate last year's successful opening of Eagle Ridge, a 71-unit affordable apartment community.
The development, located at 721 Mango Circle, was supported in part through Pinellas County's HOME and HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funds.
Eagle Ridge offers one-, two- or three-bedroom, pet-friendly, apartment homes with spacious, open floor plans, granite countertops, energy-star appliances, faux wood floors and tile surround showers.
The affordable housing community includes a clubhouse with a community room, fitness center and playground.
In its continuing efforts to relieve the affordable housing crisis, the Pinellas County Commission has also approved funds for two other affordable housing projects that will add another 270 units in the next few years.
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The commission gave conditional approval to use Penny for Pinellas funds to support a new rental community in South St. Petersburg and approved funds from the State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP) to rehabilitate six units in Lealman for people with special needs.
Fairfield Avenue Apartments, 3300 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Petersburg, will provide 264 affordable homes with all units set aside for those earning less than 120 percent, 80 percent or 50 percent of the area median income.
The county will provide $5.6 million from the Penny for Pinellas tax for land and construction costs. The project is also supported by a loan from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the St. Petersburg CRA.
Homes for Independence will fund the renovation of six units at 1000 79th Ave. N., 8211 12th Way N. and 3890 7th Ave. N. in the Lealman area, using $386,198 in SHIP funds. The units will be set at affordable rates for people with special needs.
See related stories:
The county has approved more than 1,100 affordable homes for funding support with the renewed Penny for Pinellas in the past two years alone, with many currently under construction by local developers. The voter-approved Penny sales tax helps cover the land and other authorized costs for residential developments where some or all units are reserved at affordable rates.
Other affordable housing projects receive county support through local, state and federal programs in partnership with the Pinellas County Housing Finance Authority, Pinellas County Housing Authority and other agencies.
The county has also joined with Forward Pinellas and the cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo and Pinellas Park in the Advantage Pinellas Countywide Housing Compact, an agreement to develop and implement long-term solutions to housing affordability.
Pinellas County has committed an estimated $80 million from the Penny sales tax to support development of affordable housing over the next decade.
For more information on countywide affordable housing programs, click here.
For a list of resources to help renters and others struggling with housing affordability, click here.
St. Pete to transform lumber yard into affordable housing
Mark Parkerhttps://stpetecatalyst.com/st-pete-to-transform-lumber-yard-into-affordable-housing/
In September 2021, the City of St. Petersburg became the first municipality in Florida to take advantage of a new House Bill that allows for a process to create affordable housing in otherwise prohibited zoning districts.Utilizing that new process, an old lumber yard at 3300 Fairfield Ave. S. will soon be transformed into 264 affordable apartments.On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved turning an industrial-zoned, seven-acre location into an affordable housing complex. Currently occupied by Tibbetts L...
In September 2021, the City of St. Petersburg became the first municipality in Florida to take advantage of a new House Bill that allows for a process to create affordable housing in otherwise prohibited zoning districts.
Utilizing that new process, an old lumber yard at 3300 Fairfield Ave. S. will soon be transformed into 264 affordable apartments.
On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved turning an industrial-zoned, seven-acre location into an affordable housing complex. Currently occupied by Tibbetts Lumber, the Pinellas Trail borders the site to its south and Fairfield Avenue to its north. The proposed development also sits between 34th Street South to the east and 31st Street to the west.
“There’s no other building like this located in St. Peterburg that I’m aware of,” said Rob Gerdes, city administrator. “With this number of units – all workforce and affordable units, no market-rate units – with no tax credits involved.
“This is a very unique application.”
In 2020, the State Legislature approved House Bill 1339, which states in part: Notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance or regulation to the contrary, the governing body of a municipality may approve the development of housing that is affordable … on any parcel zoned for residential, commercial or industrial use.
In October 2021, the city council formally approved an amendment to the city code, creating a process for a developer to apply for an affordable housing development not typically permitted in neighborhood suburban, neighborhood traditional, industrial suburban and industrial traditional zoning districts. The current zoning of the proposed Fairfield Apartment complex is industrial traditional.
“The purpose of this (the bill and subsequent amendment to city code) was to help overcome impediments to the development of more affordable housing,” said Gerdes. “And one of those impediments is available land for construction.”
Gerdes noted that city council’s approval is only relevant to the current proposal. If the development falls through, or if the developer makes significant changes to the site plan, the application process begins anew.
Gerdes also explained strict location, density, affordability and property size criteria. City code prohibits variances for the project criteria, including a minimum of five acres and 60 units; a location within two miles of a public or vocational school, one mile of a grocery store and the Pinellas Trail or a city park and a quarter-mile of a PSTA bus line; and a maximum rent or sale price at 120% or below the area median income (AMI), with a 30-year minimum affordability period.
Gerdes said the application checks all the boxes.
The proposed site is bordered by the Pinellas Trail to the south and Fairfield Avenue South to its north. Gibbs High School, grocery stores and a PSTA bus stop are all nearby. Screengrab.
The application calls for 53 units for residents making 50% or less of the AMI, which is currently $33,250 for a household of three. Another 67 units are for those making up to 80% of the AMI, and the remaining 144 units are available to those at or below 120% of the AMI, or $79,800 for a three-person household.
“If you just looked at the units at 80% and 50% AMI, that’s 120 units,” added Gerdes. “That’s larger than any 9% tax credit development, numbers-wise, that I’m aware of in the City of St. Petersburg.
“So, if you don’t even look at the units at 120% AMI, you just look at the other units – it’s very significant for St. Petersburg.”
Attorney Brian Aungst spoke on behalf of the applicant and developer, HP Capital Group. He called it a historic day in the Sunshine City as the Fairfield Avenue project is the first in the state to take advantage of the new process. He said the proposal would serve as a model for other municipalities throughout the state.
Councilmember Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, whose district encompasses the site, said she recently received a call stating that 70 families with children in the area were currently sleeping in their cars.
“To hear that we’re going to have 254 units of affordable housing that are not just strictly at 120% AMI – is exciting to me,” she said. “I just want you guys (HP Capital Group) to know that I appreciate it.”
Councilmember Richie Floyd said he likes to preserve industrial land because it provides jobs that help people afford housing expenses but called the proposal “impressive.” He asked about the affordability period, and Gerdes explained that in addition to the 30-year stipulation in the proposal, the developer is working with Pinellas County to secure a land trust that would increase the affordability term to 99 years.
Councilmember Ed Montanari credited city staff for taking a difficult process and quickly utilizing it to combat the affordable housing crisis.
“This sort of stuff isn’t easy,” he said. “The level of detail and the speed at which it got done – you know, government doesn’t work very fast.”
Both Montanari and Aungst acknowledged Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, who was absent, for her work to see the process and proposal come to fruition.
“The fact that this is historic – and that the City of St. Petersburg is the first to use this tool – says something about governance in our city,” said Montanari.
The city council unanimously approved HP Capital Group’s proposal for the Fairfield Avenue affordable housing project. Tibbetts Lumber plans to relocate to Largo, and developers expect to break ground at the site in the coming months.
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