Tampa General Hospital Takes Housing Crisis Head On; New Apartment Community Will Offer TGH and USF Health Team Members Access to Affordable Options With Short Commutes

TGH, USF and community leaders break ground for construction of “The Linden,” a 170-home community for TGH and USF Health workforce.

Tampa, FL (Nov. 9, 2026) - Tampa General Hospital (TGH), along with their development partner, The Michaels Organization (TMO), will construct an apartment complex in Brandon to offer TGH and USF Health team members affordable housing options. John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center | Tampa General, and Mick Flanagan, chief investment officer at The Michaels Organization, were joined by Commissioners Gwen Myers and Chris Boles to break ground on property at 9804 Delaney Creek Boulevard in Brandon, marking the official start of construction on a project that aims to help team members access affordable housing within a reasonable distance of their workplace.

The Linden will offer 170 apartment homes to team members of Tampa General and USF Health earning between 80% and 120% of the area median income.  Spacious, energy-efficient apartment homes will be available in one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Amenities include a pool, playground, garden and dog park, as well as gathering spaces where residents can enjoy time with their families and neighbors.  

"When we care for our team, they are better prepared to care for the patients we serve,” said Couris. “We saw the rising cost of housing as a challenge for our team members, and it is not only impacting their bottom line, but also their quality of life. While TGH cannot solve the housing challenges alone, we are making strides through meaningful partnerships, ones that have enabled us to develop the Linden. With the Linden, we’re offering a housing option that is both accessible and affordable. 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 and support the long-term future of TGH and USF Health.”

The project was born as the nation’s housing crisis drove the cost of homeownership and rent out of reach for many Floridians. Global inflation has also increased the cost of everyday essentials. Tampa General proposed a workforce housing project on the property it already owned at Delaney Creek Boulevard. The state of Florida contributed $12.5 million to support construction, and Hillsborough County committed to contribute $2 million over a four-year span.

"Housing was an issue then, and is still an issue today" said Myers, when speaking about her career in county government. "People cannot afford to find a home. We are going to change that."

"Today, we are celebrating a partnership that is really going to make a difference in people's lives, not just today, but in their lifelong pursuit of chasing the American Dream. We talk a lot about affordable housing and the challenges facing working families. Today is more than just talking about a problem, it's about putting a solution into the ground," said Boles.

The Linden sits one mile from TGH's Brandon Emergency Center. A free shuttle will run between The Linden and Tampa General's main campus on Davis Islands and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in downtown Tampa. Families will also benefit from a 5,000-square-foot childcare facility on site, operated by O2B Kids.

“The Linden is a direct answer to the expressed needs of our team members,” said Qualenta Kivett, executive vice president and chief people and talent officer at Tampa General. “Access to affordable housing and childcare within the confines of a manageable commute are barriers for many of our team members and this community is one more way we are working to help remove those barriers for the people who care for our community every day. We choose to continue to invest in our people so they can focus on caring for our community.”

Tampa General is working with The Michaels Organization, a leader in affordable military and workforce housing around the country for more than five decades, to develop affordable living options for the teams and families that support Tampa General and USF Health.

"The Michaels Organization applauds the leadership of Tampa General Hospital who recognized that their workforce deserves high quality, beautifully designed housing close to their jobs," said Michael (Mick) Flanagan, Michaels' chief investment Officer. "We are proud to be their partner on this innovative solution to their attainable housing needs."

The development team includes Urban Practice, serving as the architect. Michaels will provide asset and property management services, ensuring The Linden remains a neighborhood asset for years to come.

The Linden is expected to open in late summer 2028.