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.