Blue Sky Communities, a Tampa Bay-based affordable housing developer, and their nonprofit partner, Community Assisted & Supported Living (CASL), have broken ground on Cedar Cove, a new affordable housing development at 600 Orlando Avenue in Bradenton. The project will deliver 80 apartment homes for families emerging from homelessness.
Local leaders, community members, and development partners gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony. Speakers included Manatee County Commissioners Amanda Ballard and Mike Rahn, CASL CEO Scott Eller, Blue Sky Communities President Shawn Wilson, and Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness CEO Taylor Neighbors.
Credit: Blue Sky Communities.
Commissioner Mike Rahn stated, “Workforce Housing fills a critical need for the citizens of Manatee County. Cedar Cove will provide the housing that is needed for those who need it the most. We are proud to have this project in Manatee County and what it will provide to the citizens.”
Commissioner Amanda Ballard added, “I am honored that Manatee County can play a role in bringing Cedar Cove to life, a development that will offer affordable, stable homes and critical support to families who need it most. This project is an example of what’s possible when public partners, nonprofits, and developers come together with a shared vision for community well-being. I am grateful for the collaboration behind Cedar Cove, and optimistic that we can replicate this success to create more inclusive, equitable housing in the future.”
Credit: Blue Sky Communities.
Cedar Cove will consist of three three-story residential buildings with a clubhouse, playground, ample parking, and 1.8 acres of green space. The 80 apartments will include 14 one-bedroom, 42 two-bedroom, and 24 three-bedroom units. Carteret Management, a long-time partner of Blue Sky Communities and CASL, will oversee property management.
Apartments will be reserved for residents earning 22%, 35%, or 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Current 60% AMI rental rates are $1,211 for a one-bedroom, $1,453 for a two-bedroom, and $1,679 for a three-bedroom apartment.
The Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, the lead agency for the Continuum of Care in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, will help ensure that families experiencing homelessness are prioritized for housing.
“The groundbreaking of Cedar Cove represents a powerful milestone in our community’s fight to end family homelessness,” said Taylor Neighbors, CEO of Suncoast Partnership. “We are honored to support this development and stand alongside Blue Sky Communities, CASL, and Manatee County in bringing safe, stable homes and on-site supportive services to families in need. Together, we’re not only helping families access housing; we are restoring hope that has been lost and ensuring families have a pathway toward long-term stability and opportunity.”
Credit: Blue Sky Communities.
CASL will provide on-site supportive services for 40 families, many with school-aged children, offering transportation assistance, healthcare access, and case management to promote long-term stability.
The $28 million development is being financed through a combination of resources, including Manatee County’s Livable Manatee incentives, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Chase Bank, and Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments.
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It woukld be nice if you left the trees but I imagine in your ignorance you will mow them all down. Bradenton has been destroyed by bad planning and clear cutting. Once a nice agricultural town full of orange groves, strawqberry fields and tomatoe fields it is now bordering on a slum like the ugly apartmets on 301 – what are you going to do about the traffic fromn those apartments on two lane roads.