Florida Live Local Act Spurs 218-Unit Affordable Housing Development in Tampa

Construction is officially underway on Westlake Apartments, a 218-unit multifamily community in Tampa’s Westshore area and an example of how Florida’s Live Local Act is creating new opportunities for housing development across the state. Developed by Mainstreet Capital Partners and built by ARCO/Murray, the 229,690-square-foot project is expected to be completed in fall 2028.

Westlake Apartments is moving forward through the Live Local Act, which allows qualifying multifamily developments on properties designated for commercial, industrial or mixed-use development without going through the traditional rezoning process. To qualify, at least 40% of the residential units must remain affordable for a minimum of 30 years. By opening additional sites to residential development, the legislation is creating new options for Florida communities working to expand housing supply in high-growth markets.

For Westlake Apartments, reaching construction follows several years of planning between Mainstreet Capital Partners and ARCO/Murray. The teams began working together in 2022, evaluating design alternatives, project costs and constructability as the development progressed. That ongoing collaboration helped the team respond to changing project needs, make informed decisions throughout design and ultimately move the development from concept to groundbreaking.

“Our relationship with Mainstreet Capital Partners is built on trust and a shared commitment to doing the right thing,” said Dan Huttenmoser, Senior Project Manager at ARCO/Murray. “Over the past several years, we’ve worked through design decisions, project costs and constructability side by side. We trust each other, we know we’re working toward the same goal, and that partnership is a big reason Westlake is moving forward today.”

Westlake Apartments will include two five-story wood-frame residential buildings constructed on post-tensioned slab-on-grade foundations. The community will feature 218 apartment homes, a central courtyard with a resort-style pool and surface parking, adding new housing options in one of Tampa’s growing employment and residential areas.

As Florida continues to face demand for both multifamily and affordable housing, projects like Westlake Apartments show how the Live Local Act is beginning to translate into new development opportunities.