Portland Apartments Kicked Off Fully Leased

By Georgiana Mihaila, Associate Editor

The 12-story Portland Apartments in downtown St. Petersburg was not only completed in due time but made a grand entrance in the Tampa Bay market by starting out fully leased.

Developed by 908 Development Group, The Portland is a 68-unit, 12-story affordable-housing complex with three stories of garage parking. The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units feature modern energy-efficient appliances, hard-surface countertops, a fitness center, a community center and a fourth-floor amenity deck overlooking Mirror Lake. The building has been constructed with a number of sustainable building materials and practices, including low-flow water fixtures.  Batson Cook was the contractor for the project, which took 12 months to be completed, while ROJO Architecture provided the design.

According to an official release, 908 Development Group secured the necessary financing for completion of the project from several sources, including the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, as well as the city of St. Petersburg.

“The motivation for us to construct the building utilizing green practices and materials is to improve the indoor air quality and environment for the residents, reduce the impact on the surrounding environment, and reduce energy consumption and thus monthly utility costs for the residents,” stated Justin Wilson, principal for The Portland Apartments. The developer is anticipated to seek a LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The project makes a contribution to the significant lack of workforce housing for downtown St. Petersburg’s essential service personnel. Rents start at $591 per month for a one-bedroom unit, $698 per month for a two-bedroom unit and $797 per month for a three-bedroom unit.