Subject:
Title
Payment request related to the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area Home Investment Program services agreement with Habitat for Humanity.
Recommended Action:
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the payment request related to the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Home Investment Program (HIP) services agreement. The HIP program is included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Lealman Work Plan and Lealman CRA Trust Fund Budget, which the Agency approved during their regular meeting on September 18, 2025. A copy of the Work Plan is attached to this item.
• The HIP enables the construction of single-family homes for residents earning less than 120% of the Area Median Income. Habitat for Humanity can receive up to $60,000 in subsidy through various fees described in the Agreement for each new single-family home built to offset land acquisition and hard construction costs.
• All four properties discussed in this item are a part of a Master Ground Lease between the Pinellas County Housing Finance Authority (Lessor) and Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, Inc (Lessee) and is part of the Lealman Heights project. The Pinellas County Housing Finance Authority is the Trustee of the Lealman Habitat Land Trust Agreement. There will be no Land Acquisition Reimbursements for any property located within this Master Ground Lease.
• This first property, located at 3957 57th Avenue North, entitles Habitat to a $20,000 Hard Construction Cost Fee. The property has been confirmed to be located within the CRA boundaries.
• This second property, located at 3941 57th Avenue North, entitles Habitat to a $20,000 Hard Construction Cost Fee. The property has been confirmed to be located within the CRA boundaries.
• This third property, located at 3977 57th Avenue North, entitles Habitat to a $20,000 Hard Construction Cost Fee. The property has been confirmed to be located within the CRA boundaries.
• This fourth property, located at 3967 57th Avenue North, entitles Habitat to a $20,000 Hard Construction Cost Fee. The property has been confirmed to be located within the CRA boundaries.
• The total payment request for the four properties is $80,000, funded by the Countywide portion of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF).
• Per the terms of the Services Agreement, Habitat is eligible to receive the applicable incentive(s) once the homes are constructed and the homeowners close on the purchase of the homes.
• Funding for this payment is included in the FY26 Budget for Lealman CRA in the Lealman Community Redevelopment Agency Trust Fund.
Strategic Priorities:
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.1 Increase the availability of attainable housing.
Summary:
The HIP is designed to support infill housing within the CRA boundaries, encouraging new construction and reinvestment in existing neighborhoods and promoting affordable homeownership. The service agreement incentivizes Habitat to construct new, affordable single-family homes through three different subsidies: a Hard Construction Cost Fee (HCCF) of $20,000.00 to off-set hard construction costs, a Land Acquisition Fee (LAF) of up to $40,000.00 or the appraised value, whichever is less, and a Lien Land Acquisition Fee (LLAF) of $15,000 or the value of the lien, whichever is less. In no case shall the maximum incentive exceed $60,000.00 for each property acquired by the developer.
Background/Explanation:
The County entered into a 3-year agreement on July 21, 2022; after issuing a letter of Interest to create the HIP and a contract was awarded to Habitat for Humanity for the construction of affordable housing within the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The Agency approved a first amendment to the agreement nearly 2 years into the 3-year agreement to increase the Land Acquisition Fee from $25,000 to $40,000, increase the Hard construction Cost Fee from $15,000 to $20,000, resulting in an increase in total subsidies per property from $55,000 to $60,000, remove the annual limitation of $500,000 per year, thereby applying the 3-year funding limitation of $1,500,000 for the life of 3-year term, and add a 24-month option to renew. The first amendment to the agreement was effective July 30, 2024. The second amendment extended the contract by the additional 24-month option effective June 20, 2025, and added $1,000,000 to the contract.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for this payment is $80,000 and is included in the FY26 Budget for Lealman CRA in the Lealman Community Redevelopment Agency Trust Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to approve these payment requests is granted through Resolution No. 19-10 and through the Agency’s approval of the FY26 Lealman Work Plan and CRA Budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Colan Treml, CRA & Economic Development Coordinator, Lealman Community
Partners:
Lealman CRA Advisory Committee
Lealman residents, businesses, stakeholders, and community partners
Attachments:
Funding Packet Submission - Suggs
Funding Packet Submission - Rivera
Funding Packet Submission - Thomas
Funding Packet Submission - Farmer
Master Ground Lease & LURA with Amendments
Habitat & Pinellas County Agreement - Second Amendment
Habitat & Pinellas County Agreement - First Amendment
Habitat & Pinellas County Agreement
FY26 Lealman CRA Work Plan
Lealman CRA Plan
Adopted Resolution 19-10