Tampa Republic

The Tampa City Council has approved $750,000 to support the construction of an 88-unit affordable housing complex named Madison Highlands II. The funding comes from a State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) Grant, which aids local governments in preserving affordable homeownership for low-income families. The new apartments will be located at 5315 N. 37th Street and will serve as Phase II of Madison Highlands, with Phase I having opened in November 2021.

“Ensuring our area’s most vulnerable seniors have access to affordable housing that enables them to live independently is a priority,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “Housing costs are a long-standing issue for seniors, especially retirees on fixed incomes, and this development will help remove that burden.”

Of the 88 units in Phase II, nine will be reserved for extremely low-income tenants, with fifty percent of those designated as “Special Needs” units. Additionally, ninety percent of the units will cater to individuals at sixty percent of the area median income (AMI), while ten percent will be available for those at forty percent AMI.

“The demand for affordable, accessible housing for seniors on limited incomes has soared,” stated Kayon Henderson, the City’s Director of Housing and Community Development. “Affordable housing has been shown to support independence – and reduce the housing cost burden for those on fixed income—ultimately contributing to our senior community’s housing needs. Awarding this SHIP grant money is a major step in the right direction.”

The complex will feature amenities such as a picnic pavilion, BBQ grills, a swimming pool, and an outdoor screened lanai. Construction is slated to begin in Summer 2024.