Three local organizations have partnered to build 140 new affordable housing units for Hillsborough County residents 62 and older. Blue Sky Communities, the Diocese of St. Petersburg, and Catholic Charities are working to create Casa de Francesco. The community will be in the Mango area, directly adjacent to the Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Casa de Francesco
“The inspiration to build a senior living complex on St. Francis of Assisi Church property came about quite organically,” said the Rev. Edison Bernavas, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi. “Each day, since my arrival at St. Francis, I walk from my residence to the church and appreciate the beautiful, verdant landscape that is home to our parish.”
The development will be completed in summer 2024. The single four-story building will contain two elevators, surface parking, activity rooms, and ample green space for outdoor recreation.
Of the 140 units, 15 percent will be reserved for residents earning below 30 percent of the area median income. Giving access to those who struggle with finding affordable housing is an important part of the creation of Casa de Francesco.
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“I was becoming more and more aware of our substantial elderly population and their needs, through my monthly home visits with them,” Rev. Bernavas explains, “They told me how difficult it was to afford a decent home and manage daily bills on their minimum incomes. The thought came to me… why don’t we build affordable housing on our property, which in turn would make it easier for them to come to church and increase the daily participation at the mass?”
Amenities
Management will provide the residents with a list of qualified service providers for light housekeeping, grocery shopping, or laundry services and coordinate scheduling for them. Property management support will be accessible 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Therefore, any maintenance, security, or health-related issues that may arise will be handled appropriately and efficiently.
The rest of the units will be available for those earning below 60 percent of the area median income. Blue Sky Communities and Catholic Charities will partner to provide programs and community amenities. This includes things like on-site weekly literacy lessons. There will also be an optional Resident Assurance Check-in Program. It will offer daily check-ins on a pre-determined basis at no cost to residents.
What is Blue Sky Communities?
Blue Sky Communities is a Tampa Bay real estate developer of affordable and workforce housing. A leader across Florida in development, property management, and advocacy, some areas of expertise include:
- Housing Credits
- Tax-Exempt Bonds
- CDBG, HOME, SHIP, SAIL, and other incentives
Ash Leyva, Vice President of Project Development at Blue Sky Communities, is excited about collaboration that’s led to Casa de Francesco.
“It is an honor to collaborate with the Diocese on a development of this magnitude,” she elaborates. “Through these partnerships, Blue Sky helps to develop neighborhood assets that stakeholders can be proud of for decades.”