PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — When many can see grassy fields as just a patch of land, Mike Sutton sees a world of possibilities.

What You Need To Know

  • Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside is building new housing in the Lealman neighborhood of St. Pete

  • The project comes after approval from the county, where they'll build about 60 new homes/townhomes

  • Additionally, Habitat is finishing another project in Clearwater where they've built 54 townhomes for families in that area 

“If I see a piece of grass anywhere in Pinellas County, I typically think about, like, what can we put on that piece of grass?” Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, said.

Sutton has been the CEO for the last 11 years and, according to him, there is something about the possibilities a plot of land possesses that makes this job incredible.

“I’ve experienced nearly 700 families receiving the keys of their own home and it never gets old,” Sutton said.

That’s the end goal of every project, but the beginning usually looks like an empty plot of land.

In the Lealman neighborhood of Pinellas County, nestled across the street from Lealman Elementary School, is nearly six acres of land that will become affordable housing for nearly 60 families.

“We’re standing on that property, which will, will eventually, be home to 57 new families,” Sutton said.

They recently got approval from Pinellas County Commissioners to build on this land.

They’ll be creating 30 single-family homes and 27 townhomes to fit even more folks in the area since so many people are moving to Florida.

“It’s a desirable community for the families we serve,” said Sutton.

According to Sutton, townhomes are helping the growing need for folks to find housing in the county, and though it’s only grass now, about 30 minutes away, you can see what their vision can become.

“The house is pretty much complete,” Sutton said when referring to a property in Clearwater. “And this is what it will look like as the homeowners move in.”

While the real estate contract negotiations continue in Lealman, Habitat is welcoming several families into their new homes in Clearwater in March, which will be townhomes that are like Lealman.

“This is the Longlake Preserve Project that Habitat is building,” Sutton said. “It’s basically, 54 townhomes.”

Though they make sure every neighborhood isn’t exactly the same, Sutton says this neighborhood gives you a good idea for what Lealman will look like when all is said and done.

“I remember standing on it when it was just grass and some trees,” Sutton said. “And to see how far we’ve come and, and to see, we’re literally weeks away from some homeowners moving in is, it’s really rewarding.”

Whether work is almost complete, or it’s about to begin, Sutton and the folks at Habitat have the vision in mind and see what a world of possibilities can do for a family needing a place to call home.

Sutton anticipates work in Lealman will begin near the end of 2025.

He says Habitat broke ground on the Clearwater property near the end of 2023, with most of their work coming to fruition there within the last 10 to 12 months.