A new affordable housing community is coming to Bradenton. Tampa-based Blue Sky Communities' latest project, Sandpiper Place, is a 92-unit multifamily rental housing complex that is expected to be move in-ready by next summer. Located on 26^th Street West, three blocks south of Cortez, the community will provide working families with an affordable place to live. Manatee County Government has provided $354,000 in initial investment; funding was supplied from the Southwest Count Improvement District (SWD) under Ordinance No. 14-28. The district, established by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, was created to undertake, carry out or arrange for redevelopment and related activities within Manatee County’s urban area. The initial $354,000 community investment was enough to qualify the development for extra points on its major funding application to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) last year, which resulted in an investment of nearly $15 million from the FHFC. Additional financing came from JP Morgan Chase, with Raymond James serving as its official corporate investor.

Sandpiper Place will have several garden-style buildings, a clubhouse, pool and playground for families. The community is targeted to support working families, and will offer a mix of 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom units. Rental rates are planned to range from $399 a month to $1,277 a month. The maximum income for a four-person family will be $45,900.