Tampa developer shares insights into the complexities of affordable housing

In the latest Florida Business Minds podcast episode, Dan Coakley, principal of PMG Affordable, talks with Tampa Bay Business Journal Editor at Large Ashley Gurbal Kritzer.

Coakley discussed the redevelopment of Tampa's Robles Park Village, a 30-acre project with 1,800 units, including 1,200 affordable and 600 market-rate units. The project, in partnership with Tampa Housing Authority and Banc of America Community Development Co., aims to triple affordable housing and feature a 30,000-square-foot community center.

Coakley highlighted the five-year planning process, community engagement and the complexities of financing affordable housing, emphasizing the need for public-private partnerships and increased funding.

"Having the ability to deliver 1,200 affordable units where people can drive five minutes and be downtown, or take public transport and be there in five or 10 minutes, that's what I think is really going to move the needle on the [housing] crisis," Coakley said. "I've positioned our company to participate in those partnerships, because that's where I think you can do large-scale transformation. ... These large-scale, public-private partnerships are really just a tremendous opportunity to transform and take a chunk out of this imbalance."

The project is expected to break ground in April or May.

Listen to the free podcast below or here.

Presented by TECO Peoples Gas, the Florida Business Minds audio series features candid conversations with business leaders from the Orlando, South Florida, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville regions.

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