The Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America have broken ground on Phase 1 of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments, an affordable housing complex within the Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard redevelopment area.

The St. Peter Claver Place Apartments will provide affordable housing for qualified residents, those who make approximately 60% of the Average Median Income. Phase 1 will provide 136 two-bedroom, two-bath and three-bedroom, two-bath rental units and is expected to be complete in early 2024. The monthly rents will range from approximately $600 to $1,300.

“The idea for St. Peter Claver Place Apartments started seven years ago from a conversation with the Diocese of Venice and the city of Fort Myers,” said Rick Miller, president of National Development of America, the developer of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments. “We’re pleased to be in construction now and look forward to delivering quality housing at rental rates that working people can actually afford.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by officials from both sides of the partnership between the Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America, as well as Mayor Kevin Anderson; Councilman Johnny Streets; Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown; Michele Hylton-Terry, executive director of the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency; and Marcus Goodson, executive director of the Lee County Housing Authority.

“We treasure our partnership with the city of Fort Myers,” said Most Rev. Frank Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice. “Throughout Fort Myers, people are in need of housing and, in particular, rental housing. We want to contribute to the residents of our community and help them.”

National Development and the Diocese of Venice embarked on this project seven years ago to address the critical demand for affordable rental housing in Southwest Florida. Through close partnership with the City of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency and Lee County Housing Authority, National Development of America was able to overcome various market challenges that significantly impacted the development.

“Our company started 40 years ago in Fort Myers, and we are invested in this community. We are committed to its residents, and housing is our mission,” said Miller. “This is something we want to do and it’s an opportunity to serve the community. We are happy to be a part of this.”

National Development of America is a Fort Myers-based developer that specializes in affordable and workforce housing. The company has developed affordable housing apartment communities throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and Louisiana, and coordinates general contracting and property management for all of its affordable housing developments. Learn more at national-development.com.