TAMPA — From concept to completion, builder, contractor and owner of Community Development Contractors Southeast LLC Michael Leeks is involved in every aspect of the job.

“The first eight units are going over here where we have done a tree-clearing,” he said about new development in Forest Hills off of Linebaugh Avenue.

“It’s close to schools, transit for getting around and it’s close to the interstate,” he said.

Those townhomes are scheduled for completion in about six months. 

Leeks is staying busy. Just five miles away in the area of Seminole Heights, his company is beginning the second phase of the ‘Courtyard Residences’ townhomes on Nebraska Avenue. 

“This is one of our upcoming projects that we will be doing later this year,” he said.

Leeks and his bustling business appears to be part of a trend.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Tampa Bay has issued the second most housing construction permits in Florida this year. 

Approximately 55 new permits for homebuilding were issued to every per 100,000 residents in Tampa Bay in May 2023, which is an increase from 47 at the peak of the pandemic.

“This year alone we applied for 16 permits. All new construction,” he added.

The data indicates a significant jump in construction since the pandemic.

Leeks purchased land just as COVID shut everything down, including construction. He said initially that staffing and supply chain issues were a concern. 

“We saw the full gamut of what those challenges were,“ he said.

However, the Tampa native says also seeing growth like never before in his hometown. 

“I think there needs to be a collective input on what this community will look like, and that takes input from all walks of life,” said Leeks.

He wants to be part of the conversation and solution for affordable housing.

“The term I like to use is attainable and make sure people are able to keep those homes and not put themselves in a position where they either lose those homes or the homes don’t maintain the value," Leeks said. "You have to be very conscientious about what you are doing and how you are doing it."

While Leeks is taking on more construction projects, he says the cost to do business isn’t going down, but he’s in it for the long haul.

“Pricing hasn’t adjusted to the pre-pandemic levels, I’m glad to see things pick up,” he said. “This is my livelihood. I’m glad to see things have picked up.”

As long as the need for housing stays high, he hopes to keep building and expects others will, too.