Co-Living in St Petersburg FL

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL cover picture shows a rendering of the new proposed Dockside co-living community in south St Petersburg FL with blue siding.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL: The Solution to Rising Rents & Housing Shortage:  The Rent Crisis in St. Petersburg

Moreover, rents continue soaring in St. Petersburg. Accordingly, demand outpaces supply in the housing market. However, one local property firm addresses this issue. Specifically, they build innovative co-living spaces throughout St. Petersburg. Additionally, these co-living spaces offer affordable housing solutions.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  What is Co-Living?

In a co-living space, house members share amenities. For example, kitchens, living rooms, and other communal areas. Furthermore, residents have private bedrooms and bathrooms. Likewise, co-living provides economic benefits of shared housing. Additionally, members still maintain privacy and independence.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  Docked Living: St. Petersburg’s Co-Living Solution

Docked Living, a St. Petersburg co-living developer, provides solutions. Specifically, they offer a membership-based housing subscription model. Rather than traditional leases, this innovative approach tackles affordability. Also, Docked Living redevelops vacant and dormant properties.

For instance, they convert a former car wash site. Particularly, into four single-family homes with ADUs. Totaling 26 bedrooms for co-living at this location. Moreover, a former medical office becomes another co-living home. Clearly, Docked Living maximizes underutilized spaces and properties.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  The Co-Living Experience

Furthermore, Docked Living co-founder Mark Hunter describes their model. In particular, “You don’t see, hear, or know others live there.” As well, “It’s a private social club twist on roommates.” Essentially, members get roommate economics without compromising privacy. Additionally, “We cut rents in half without subsidies.”

Furthermore, Hunter states their pioneering mentality. Specifically, “We fully embrace pushing frontiers of what’s possible.” Over eight years, Docked delivered over 100 co-living rooms. Moreover, their design separates living spaces for privacy. Interaction among housemates remains optional, not required.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  Design and Construction

Additionally, Docked Living vertically integrates design, engineering, and construction. In particular, this control ensures optimal co-living experiences. For instance, reducing sound transmission between units. As well as, providing private bathrooms and large kitchens.

Furthermore, the co-living spaces invest in energy efficiency. Sustainable infrastructure minimizes utility costs for members. Likewise, Docked furnishes homes with appliances and supplies. Also, cleaning, WiFi, coffee, and laundry are included amenities.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  An Affordable Housing Solution

Importantly, co-living addresses affordability challenges many face. For example, Nick Price joined Docked Living in 2020. Specifically, as Head of Development after personal struggles. As Price explains, “After USF, I moved home – no $1,000 housing existed.”

Moreover, many St. Petersburg workers commute due to costs. Alternatively, they settle for roommate situations out of necessity. However, Docked Living provides turn-key, affordable co-living solutions. Their spaces exist in neighborhoods like Harbordale and Downtown.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  Uniquely Designed Homes

Every Docked Living home offers unique features and amenities. For example, outdoor spaces, solar panels, independent co-working areas. Additionally, intentional community building occurs through home designs.

In particular, Hunter states their redevelopment approach. Specifically, “We buy 1-5 adjacent landfill lots to build entire blocks.” The goal is developing “a village” of co-living communities.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  Growth and Expansion Plans

Moreover, Docked Living seeks co-development partners for ground-up projects. In particular, they plan investing $30 million over three years. Specifically, into co-living housing solutions across Florida. Active projects exist in Tampa and Lakeland currently.

Furthermore, they aim to acquire 20 acres in Gainesville. As well, enter the Winter Haven submarket in Central Florida. As stated, “Gentrification reached every St. Pete neighborhood.” Their model provides “nicer places without higher rents.”

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  Local Business Partnerships

In addition to affordable housing, Docked Living cultivates community. For instance, partnering with local St. Petersburg businesses. These include discounts at places like Grassroots Kava House. As well as Sans Market, Thrive DTSP coworking, and more.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  The Severity of St. Petersburg’s Rental Market

Currently, St. Petersburg faces a severe rental housing shortage. With an extremely low vacancy rate around 2%, supply drastically lags demand. Consequently, prices for available units continue skyrocketing upwards rapidly.

According to recent data, rents increased over 30% year-over-year. The average rent now exceeds $1,800 for a one-bedroom apartment. For a modest two-bedroom, prices average over $2,100 monthly.

These exorbitant costs place housing out of reach for many. Particularly impacting lower and middle-income residents working essential jobs. From service workers to teachers, nurses, and other professionals.

Simply put, there’s an acute shortage of affordable rental options. Causing tremendous strain on the local workforce and economy overall.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  Causes of the Housing Crisis

Several key factors contribute to St. Petersburg’s rental crisis. Most notably, a development pipeline unable to keep pace with population growth. Along with declining inventory of naturally-occurring affordable housing.

The Tampa Bay area remains one of the nation’s hottest destinations. Drawing new residents from expensive markets seeking relatively lower costs. Yet this steady influx overwhelms available housing supplies quickly.

Likewise, investors aggressively purchase properties to convert into vacation rentals. Removing them from long-term rental markets aimed at locals. Larger ownership groups and funds increasingly acquire multifamily complexes.

This speculative activity severely limits the number of apartment communities reasonable for working-class budgets. Especially as new luxury development dominates the construction pipeline focused on premium pricing.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  Implications for the Local Economy

The severe lack of workforce housing creates significant challenges. Both for employers struggling to attract and retain essential personnel locally. As well as employees forced into grueling commutes or overcrowded situations.

Beyond simply quality of life issues, the housing crisis impacts productivity and economic competitiveness. With consequences extending throughout St. Petersburg’s economy and businesses.

Many companies already encounter difficulties recruiting skilled labor lacking affordability. As housing costs continue rising unchecked, this crisis worsens considerably. Potentially threatening the region’s continued growth and prosperity long-term.

St. Petersburg must prioritize increasing affordable rental inventory urgently. Through encouraging innovative models like co-living from developers like Docked Living. As well as incentivizing more reasonably priced multifamily construction overall.

Failure to address this housing shortage could destabilize the local workforce. Forcing talented individuals and families to relocate elsewhere accessible. And deterring prospective new residents St. Petersburg’s economy depends upon.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  The Benefits of Co-Living

Docked Living’s co-living model provides an ingenious solution precisely aligned with St. Petersburg’s needs. Not only adding supply relieving housing scarcity. But delivering high-quality, full-amenitized rentals at affordable prices.

By sharing costs among members, co-living achieves economies of scale. Allowing substantial monthly savings over conventional apartment rentals market-wide. While maintaining privacy through intentional layouts minimizing shared spaces obligatory.

This naturally occurring affordability stems from efficient space utilization and operations. Rather than external subsidies burdening housing programs perpetually. Fostering sustainability making co-living viable long-term organically.

Furthermore, co-living communities cultivate built-in neighborhoods and social fabrics. Providing opportunities for connections among members if desired. Along with partnerships offering discounts and programming through local businesses.

Looking ahead, this versatile housing model holds incredible potential regionally. By revitalizing underutilized, blighted spaces into thriving micro-communities integrated within neighborhoods.

With visionary goals like developing entire co-living “villages” from assembled parcels. Docked Living exemplifies innovative placemaking transforming urban environments sustainably and affordably. While directly tackling St. Petersburg’s worsening housing crisis head-on effectively.

Co-Living in St Petersburg FL:  The Path Forward

In conclusion, St. Petersburg’s rental market reached a crisis point desperately needing solutions. Housing costs spiraling increasingly unaffordable for the local workforce. With severe supply shortages fueling untenable pricing continually.

Amidst this challenging landscape, models like co-living provide pragmatic answers enriching communities. Through infusing naturally-occurring affordable housing sustainably developed. While fostering built-in social fabrics and neighborhood integrations.

Policymakers should prioritize incentivizing and partnering with such responsible developers. To replenish depleted rental inventories with high-quality yet attainable options. Alleviating workforce burdens hindering economic productivity and growth increasingly.

Developers like Docked Living not only generate profits responsibly. But create tremendous community value through placemaking revitalizing underutilized spaces. Into vibrant affordable living solutions supplementing conventional units market-wide.

Ultimately, a multi-pronged comprehensive housing strategy proves essential going forward. Combining incentives for reasonably-priced multifamily development with promoting innovative micro-housing models. Leveraging public-private partnerships optimizing land использование vacant parcels productively.

Through determined collaboration across sectors, St. Petersburg can progressively alleviate this crisis. Providing rent-burdened residents relief, while attracting talented newcomers confidently. Ensuring the region’s long-term economic prosperity sustainably for all.

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About the Author
Rob Johnson
Realtor, St. Petersburg FL