A new affordable housing project has opened in Ybor City, Tampa, as Pittman Design Group (PDG) celebrates the completion of a 10-unit apartment complex. The development, called Casa Maceo Apartments, was made possible through a $3 million grant awarded in 2023 from a state affordable housing program. The grant was used to redevelop a vacant lot into the new apartments.
The project is a partnership between PDG and the City of Tampa. The developers—Dontavoius Pittman, Kevin Johnson, and Ponce McNeal—are all graduates of Tampa Bay Tech high school and Florida A&M University who returned to Tampa to work on local projects.
Casa Maceo Apartments offers only three-bedroom, two-bathroom units. These are aimed at families earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI), which for a family of four is about $83,000. Of the ten units, six are reserved for those making 50% AMI or less, while four are for those at 80% AMI or below. Each apartment includes features such as luxury vinyl plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, and quartz countertops.
Mayor Jane Castor commented on the significance of the project: “I could not be prouder of what Shacres Development has accomplished here in Ybor City. Dontavious Pittman, Ponce McNeal, and their team are homegrown talent, born and raised right here in Tampa, and now they’re giving back to the very neighborhoods that shaped them,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “This development is more than just new housing — it’s a testament to what happens when local visionaries invest in their own community to make Tampa a place where everyone can afford to live and thrive.”
The name Casa Maceo honors Antonio Maceo, an Afro-Cuban military leader from the 19th century who fought for Cuban independence. The complex will remain affordable for at least 30 years and is currently accepting applications from prospective residents.
