A former office property in Pinellas Park, Florida, could soon have a very different future. Plans for a large residential development have received preliminary approval, potentially transforming a 31-acre site into the city’s largest apartment community.
The proposed project includes 552 apartments, with at least 221 units designated as affordable housing under Florida’s Live Local Act.
The development is attracting attention because it would replace an office campus with a residential community featuring apartment buildings, clubhouses, parking areas, and outdoor amenities.
An Office Property Could Become a Large Residential Community
The proposed development is planned for 10222 MCI Drive, within the Gateway Center Business Park in Pinellas Park.
According to St. Pete Rising’s October 30 report, city staff approved the preliminary site plan on September 30, 2026.
The property currently contains a three-story office building that once housed an MCI WorldCom call center. The former office facility occupies approximately 124,983 square feet of a 31-acre property.
The proposed redevelopment would replace that office campus with nine four-story apartment buildings.
Plans also include two clubhouses, 847 parking spaces, three stormwater ponds, and a pedestrian walkway along the eastern side of the property near McCann Lake.
The project would be completed in two phases rather than opening all apartments at once.
The first phase would contain 388 apartments, a 9,543-square-foot clubhouse and 600 parking spaces. The second phase would add another 164 apartments, a 7,186-square-foot clubhouse and 247 parking spaces.
What the 552 Apartments Would Include
The proposed residential community would offer different apartment sizes, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units.
This variety could appeal to different household arrangements, including individuals, couples and families looking for more space.
The development would also include recreational facilities and shared outdoor areas. Plans identify pickleball courts, clubhouses and pedestrian connections within the property.
These features suggest that the project is being designed as more than a collection of apartment buildings. The layout would provide shared spaces where residents could gather and spend time outside their individual units.
However, the plans remain subject to the applicable development process. Preliminary approval should not be confused with completed construction or apartments already available for rent.
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Why at Least 221 Units Are Designated as Affordable
One of the proposal’s most important parts is its affordable housing component.
The project relies on Florida’s Live Local Act, which allows certain residential developments on industrially zoned property when specific requirements are met.
Under the proposal reported by St. Pete Rising, at least 40% of the apartments, or a minimum of 221 units, would be reserved for households earning at or below 120% of the area median income.
That affordability requirement would remain in place for at least 30 years.
The remaining 331 apartments would be rented at market rates.
The distinction matters because affordable housing does not automatically mean every household can qualify for every apartment. Eligibility is based on household income and the applicable program requirements.
The reported plan provides a framework for how the development would include both income-restricted and market-rate units.
What the Redevelopment Could Mean for Pinellas Park
Converting an older office property into housing reflects a broader challenge facing growing communities: meeting residential demand while using existing land.
The former MCI facility has a history in the area. MCI opened the call center in 1993, bringing hundreds of jobs to Pinellas Park. After the company merged with WorldCom, the facility’s operations changed over time.
The proposed redevelopment would give the site a new purpose, shifting it from office use to residential use.
For residents, the project raises practical questions about traffic, parking, neighborhood services, and the surrounding area’s future development.
The proposed 847 parking spaces indicate that vehicle access is a major part of the design. The planned pedestrian connections and lake-side walkway also suggest an effort to incorporate movement and outdoor access into the community layout.
Whether the project ultimately delivers the proposed number of homes will depend on the next stages of planning and development.
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Final Thought
The proposed 552-unit development could become a significant addition to Pinellas Park’s housing landscape. Its combination of market-rate apartments and at least 221 income-restricted units makes it a noteworthy local development story.
For now, the project remains a proposal with preliminary approval, not a completed apartment community. Residents and prospective renters will need to follow future planning updates to see when construction may begin and when homes could become available.
