Local Government Bradenton City Council Approves Affordable Housing Project for 14th Street West

BRADENTON — A planned affordable housing development for 14th Street West was unanimously approved by the Bradenton City Council on Wednesday, when they passed a real estate purchase agreement for the project's property between the city (seller) and developer Beneficial Communities.

The property is on 14th Street West, between 14th & 15th Avenue West. Once known as a motel and now located near the Village of the Arts, the project has been pitched as a step in helping revitalize that area of the city by drawing young

professionals.

The completed development would include about 80 housing units.

One qualification for living in one of the property's planned units would be a salary minimum of $25,000. That requirement was disliked by Gene Gallo, who told Ken Bowron Jr., representing the developer, that it could prevent young millennials from residing in the units. "It could very easily be a retirement neighborhood," said Gallo. The goal for 14th Street, he said, should be to make it "a very vibrant (area) within the city limits."

Gallo's comments were echoed by Bemis Smith, who said that any seniors occupying the units would have a lower turnover rate than neighboring millennials on the property due to the transient nature of young people, especially as their income level grows, while most seniors' income typically stays about the say.

But Bowron said that seniors would likely not flock to the community due to a lack of elevators. "We find that seniors tend to (separate) from younger crowds" due to flights of stairs, he said.

Tim Polk, City Director of Planning and Community Development, said any seniors attracted to the development would primarily be active seniors, and recommended the project be approved. "This breaks the ice for 14th Street," he said.