A proposed community of homes made from refurbished shipping containers is one step closer to becoming a reality in St. Pete. The proposal was initially submitted in 2021, and now the Tampa-based company Stress Free Construction has purchased the property and taken charge of the development, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

The container homes will be located along Booker Creek at the corner of 17th Street North and Burlington Avenue North, situated in close proximity to Tropicana Field, Grand Central and the EDGE District. These mini-homes will serve as a creative use of the space, giving developers flexibility to fit more homes into a smaller and less conveniently shaped area, where a typical apartment complex wouldn’t be able to fit.

The container home community will have two stories with a total of 31 apartments, as well as a room for bike storage and a laundry room. Pricing has not yet been shared, but units are expected to be community attainable housing, meaning it will be well below the standard area rate and provide St. Pete with another option for much-needed affordable housing.

Homes could be available by end of 2022

Stress Free Construction told TBBJ that construction is expected to begin in June, with the full development being finished before the end of the year.

The exterior of the building will of course be minimal in design, but the end of each storage container will have an extensive amount of glazing, and an open-air walkway will wrap along the rear of the building and will include metal railings. The roof will consist of both a flat and shed roof and will project from the building, with a design reminiscent of a mid-century style of architecture. The space between the two sets of apartments will also be home to a courtyard.

The proposal includes improvements to the public spaces around the property, including 8-10 foot wide sidewalks, street trees, landscaping and bicycle parking. TBBJ also reported that the company has already purchased a second piece of property elsewhere in St. Pete with plans for a similar development.

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