Groundbreaking on Phase II of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments to be held Thursday
The Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments, an affordable housing complex within the Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard redevelopment area on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 10:30 a.m. The groundbreaking signifies the second and final phase of construction.
The St. Peter Claver Place Apartments provides affordable housing for qualified residents who work in the City of Fort Myers and surrounding areas. Phase 1, completed in early 2024, provided 136 rental units. Phase II will add 72 more rental units to help meet the region’s growing demand for affordable housing.
National Development and the Diocese of Venice first embarked on this project nine years ago to address the critical need for affordable rental housing in Southwest Florida. Funding for Phase II was secured in part through Lee County via Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds.
Phase 1 of the St. Peter Claver Place Apartments was completed in early 2024. Through close partnership with the City of Fort Myers and Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, National Development was able to overcome various market challenges that significantly impacted the development of Phase I.
National Development of America is a Fort Myers-based developer that specializes in affordable and workforce housing. The company has developed housing communities throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and Louisiana, and coordinates general contracting and property management for all of its developments.
Representatives from Diocese of Venice and National Development of America in attendance include:
– Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice
– Rick Miller, president, National Development of America Inc.
Local officials scheduled to speak include:
– Mayor Kevin Anderson, City of Fort Myers
– Vice Chairman Cecil Pendergrass, Lee County Board of County Commissioners