U.S. HUD Deputy Regional Director Gets an Exclusive Behind the Scene Look at the West Palm Beach Housing Authority’s New Housing Developments
WEST PALM BEACH (June 29, 2017) - On Wednesday, June 21st, Christopher Taylor, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Regional Administrator received an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the West Palm Beach Housing Authority's new housing developments and learned about the new Housing Center of the Palm Beaches that will officially launch this Fall.
Christopher Taylor was joined by Jose Cintron, Director of the Miami HUD Field Office, Armando Fana, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of West Palm Beach, Denise Smith-Barnes, Chair for the Board of Directors of the West Palm Beach Housing Authority, staff, and members of the board.
The tour started with a look at MerryPlace, several City of West Palm Beach Coleman Park projects, and Sabal Palm Place which includes nine units of public housing for families. The next phase and highlight of the tour was a first look at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior Complex which includes 99 units for seniors, a free-standing club house, fitness center, activity room, and energy efficient appliances to name a few features. Following the tour of Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior Complex, was a visit to Silver Palm Place which includes 120 family units, a swimming pool, playground, fitness center, clubhouse and more.
"We are seeing a change in the Coleman Park Neighborhood and this is the centerpiece of that change. When you look at the development that is happening all around the neighborhood, the City has brought in new infrastructure and new home ownership opportunities, but this beautiful project is going to be a catalyst for great things to come", said Armando Fana, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of West Palm Beach.
Dunbar Village which opened in 1938 had 239 units. This Fall, the 17 acre site will boast 353 new units and the future home of the Housing Center of the Palm Beaches, an umbrella designation which encompasses several areas of operation including the West Palm Beach Housing Authority, Pine Ridge Holistic Living Center (a 501(C) (3)), Baobab Development Inc (the development arm), Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTEC) Units, Enterprise Properties - Affordable rental communities, Licensed General Contractor, and Certified LIHTC Management Company (Certified by Florida Housing Finance Corp).
"The West Palm Beach Housing Authority along with the City of West Palm Beach has done a great job perfecting the model of city, state, and federal partners working together, especially utilizing the low-income tax credit program to increase the number of affordable units in the community while decreasing the federal investment which will allow us to build more units in the future", said Christopher Taylor, HUD Deputy Regional Administrator.
"We are happy to have HUD visit us, continue to support our efforts, and compliment us about what we are doing and how we still continue serving the people that we have been charged to serve since 1938. Dunbar is often said to be hallowed ground and has served its public purpose for over 77 years. It is now entering a new life and we have broken new ground on this hallow ground. We are anxious to see people come and live here and have seniors, families and kids swimming in the pool and using all the fine amenities - it is going to bring such life and vitality as Dunbar has done in the past and will continue to do into the future", said Laurel Robinson, Executive Director of the West Palm Beach Housing Authority.
To learn more about the West Palm Beach Housing Authority, please click here to visit our website. For media inquiries, contact Ann Marie Sorrell (The Mosaic Group) at 561.651.9565 or email Ann.
