West Palm Beach Approves Land Transfer for 100% Affordable Development at 2823 Broadway
A vacant lot on Broadway could soon become home to 151 affordable apartments, after West Palm Beach commissioners cleared a major hurdle for the project this week. The proposal is led by 2823 Broadway QOZB LLC, a partnership between New York-based Procida Development Group and Miami’s Tre Bel Housing Development Group. Their plan calls for a seven-story building delivering entirely affordable units, along with ground-floor retail and new public space improvements along a stretch of Broadway that has long been ripe for investment. At the center of this week’s action was the city’s decision to transfer a series of publicly owned parcels to the development team at no cost, a move that marks a shift from earlier expectations that the land would generate some form of payment. The approval, granted unanimously on Monday, applies only to the conveyance itself, with additional steps including an upcoming site plan review still required before the project can move forward in full. The development footprint is made up of a seven-lot assemblage spanning both city-controlled and privately held land. Five of the parcels, located at 2815 Broadway, 2813 Broadway, 2803 Broadway, 601 27th Street and 611 27th Street, are currently owned by the city, while the developer controls the remaining sites at 2823 Broadway and 610 28th Street, bringing the full project area together. Plans for the nearly $68 million development outline 151 units in a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts, all priced at or below 80% of Area Median Income. Affordability is distributed across multiple tiers within that structure, with 27 units reserved for households earning 30% or less of AMI, 85 units targeting those between 31% and 50%, and the remaining 39 units set aside for households earning between 51% and 80%. Rents are expected to range from approximately $614 at the lowest end to $2,104 at the highest. Beyond the residential component, the project is positioned to reshape the ground level of that stretch of Broadway in a meaningful way. Plans call for 5,000 square feet of retail space, wider sidewalks, additional greenery and a 7,500-square-foot pocket park, elements intended to bring both activity and public-facing improvements to the corridor. Retail space and units will be supported by a 166-space parking garage in the back of the development, largely hidden from public view. Unlike most apartment development, this development will not feature a pool deck (given the affordability limitations). The effort to redevelop the site dates back several years, when the City Commission designated the collection of properties as surplus and launched a formal solicitation process aimed at maximizing their development potential. Proposals were expected to deliver mixed-use projects capable of acting as catalysts for the surrounding area, with a particular emphasis on affordable and workforce housing. That process ultimately led to the selection of 2823 Broadway QOZB LLC as the sole developer. Alongside the physical development, the agreement includes a set of community benefit requirements tied to the project’s execution. At least 15% of on-site construction workers must be city residents, and no less than 18% of contractors and subcontractors are required to be small businesses based within the city. As planning continues, the development team is also pursuing multiple avenues to reduce upfront construction costs, including tax credits, loan programs and other financing mechanisms that could come into play as the project advances. Several approvals remain before construction can begin, but the land transfer signals a clear step forward, moving forward a project that has been in the works for years.
Third Phase of Nora District Moves Forward After Key City Approval
Plans for a new rental community in West Palm Beach’s Nora District are moving forward, after developers secured unanimous approval from the city’s Downtown Action Committee. The project, led by NDT, Place Projects, Young Capital Ventures, and Wheelock Street Capital, is marking the next phase in the area’s ongoing, anticipated transformation. Set to deliver 350 residential units to a 2.8-acre site at 456 11th Street, the development is part of a larger five-acre assemblage fully controlled by the project team. This phase follows earlier progress in the district. The first phase, focused on retail, has already opened with rising occupancy. A second phase, which includes a hotel, is nearing completion. The newly approved rental community will be one of two buildings planned for the site. A separate condominium building is still moving through the approval process. Within the approved plans, all 350 units will be rentals, spanning one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. Of those, 298 units will be offered at market rates, while 52 will be set aside as income-restricted housing. The workforce component is tiered: 26 units are designated for households earning between 81% and 100% of the area median income, 14 units for those earning between 61% and 80%, and 12 units for households earning 60% or less. That affordability mix is tied to the city’s Downtown Master Plan housing incentive program, which allows developers to increase building size and density in exchange for public benefits such as workforce housing. During the committee meeting, a board member asked about pricing, and a preliminary estimate placed market-rate rents at around $10,000 per month. In terms of design, the project calls for an 11-story building rising about 145 feet, with floor-to-ceiling windows, glass balconies, and high-quality exterior materials. A four-story podium will contain 545 parking spaces, integrating structured parking into the base of the building. At street level, Morris Adjmi and Cube 3, the architect of record, have thoughtfully designed the project around pedestrian activity. Plans include 16,819 square feet of commercial space, along with townhomes facing 10th Street and loft-style units along 11th Street. Wide sidewalks and landscaped edges are intended to create a more walkable environment around the site. The proposal required several approvals to move forward. The development team received variances, site plan approval, and permission to vacate an alley, which will allow for a larger building footprint. While the alley is no longer in use, its historical status and removal triggered additional review. Other adjustments were also approved. These include a reduction in required seating within open-space areas, where meeting code standards would have limited circulation, as well as an increase in shade and weather protection elements beyond what is typically allowed. City staff had recommended approval ahead of the meeting, and the committee ultimately supported the full request. Still, some concerns were raised during the discussion, particularly about landscaping. Board members noted that the proposed palm trees may not provide sufficient shade. In response, the development team said it will continue working with staff to refine the landscape plan and address outstanding details as the project moves forward.