9804 Delaney Creek Blvd. — Approximate Site of Apartment Community Groundbreaking
Tampa General Hospital broke ground this week on a 170-home apartment community in Brandon built specifically for its own employees, a project hospital leaders say grew directly out of the region’s housing cost crunch. The community, called The Linden, will be reserved for Tampa General and USF Health workers earning between 80% and 120% of the area median income, with move-in targeted for 2028.
A Hospital Becomes a Housing Developer
According to Bay News 9, The Linden followed four years of planning and was developed with The Michaels Organization. Tampa General Hospital President and CEO John Couris told the outlet he never expected housing development to become part of his job running a healthcare system, but said regional growth has made it necessary for the hospital to help address housing directly. “We’re hopeful this new community will not only ease the financial burden but also support a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our teams, continue to strengthen our workforce,” Couris said, according to a release distributed via PR Newswire.
The project broke ground at 9804 Delaney Creek Boulevard in Brandon, per the same release. Funding came through a public-private partnership: the state of Florida contributed $12.5 million toward construction, while Hillsborough County committed to contribute $2 million over a four-year span. County officials have called The Linden the first workforce housing development sponsored by a hospital, per Bay News 9’s reporting.
Who Qualifies, and What Comes With It
Couris said finding housing near work has become stressful for team members, and that The Linden is intended to let employees live closer to their jobs affordably and sustainably. Eligible roles extend well beyond nursing, which the hospital says makes up about 30% of its workforce; The Linden is also expected to serve employees in physical therapy, respiratory care, imaging, medical assistance and patient care technician roles, Bay News 9 reported. Qualenta Kivett, Tampa General’s executive vice president and chief people and talent officer, said hospitals and clinics include many professional disciplines beyond nursing, and that finding suitable housing for incoming and local employees seeking to move closer to campus had become a real challenge. Kivett said an economic study found that housing availability and affordability affect the hospital’s ability to attract and retain workers…