On Friday, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor stepped onto the Edward White Campus construction site with a $3.15 million federal check in hand for the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. The money is slated to help turn the long-vacant Edward White Hospital into affordable senior housing with on-site health services. Crews are already in the thick of a major renovation of the six-story building after the project's 2024 groundbreaking.
Castor Presents Federal Funds At The Site
According to the St. Petersburg Housing Authority, Castor handed the $3.15 million check to Danielle Thomas, SPHA's senior vice president and chief operating officer, then toured the construction with Evara Health CEO Elodie Dorso. SPHA notes that Castor has backed the project since 2024 and that the federal budget allocation she secured will help plug remaining financing gaps as work moves forward.
What The Redevelopment Will Include
The six-story, 121,000-square-foot building at 2323 Ninth Avenue N. is slated to become 71 apartments: 60 one-bedroom units, seven studios and four two-bedroom units aimed primarily at low-income seniors, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. The city has also signed off on additional local funding in recent months to address storm damage and keep the renovation timeline from slipping.
Budget, Partners And Timeline
As detailed on SPHA's project page, the overhaul carries a projected price tag of about $43.8 million. SPHA plans to move its administrative offices to the ground floor, while Evara Health will run an on-site clinic. The development is expected to serve households at or below 80% of the area median income, and SPHA says the waiting list is not yet open. Construction is currently scheduled to wrap up in the first quarter of 2027.
Local Reaction And Next Steps
Residents and housing advocates have praised the federal boost while pointing out that South Pinellas still falls short on affordable senior units. As reported by ABC Action News/Tampa Bay 28, longtime local Gloria Francine Maxwell called the reuse "a full-circle moment" after years spent on waiting lists. SPHA says it will post waitlist information and application steps on its website once they are ready.
