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The MerryPlace occupies a 14 acre infill urban
parcel that will include 128 affordable rental apartments,
114 home ownership units and a community center. The agency
has partnered with Banc of America Community Development Corporation
to co-develop the entire site.
Land acquisition was completed in 2003 and the master site
plan was prepared by the Tampa office of LandDesign, Inc.
The site was rezoned as a Residential Planned Development
(RPD) in January, 2005. The City of West Palm Beach and the
West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency have committed
approximately $8.9 million dollars of public funds to the
MerryPlace site to replace the aging public infrastructure
adjacent to the site in Pleasant City. The civil design documents
were prepared by East Bay Group. Burkhardt Construction, Inc.
is the underground infrastructure General Contractor.
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Pleasant City Residential Planned Development
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Merryplace is located in the center of Pleasant
City, a historically African-American community that was the
first platted subdivision in Palm Beach County. It is less
than one mile from the Central Business District in downtown
West Palm Beach, and walking distance to waterfront Currie
Park. Since its inception nearly one hundred years ago, the
neighborhood has fallen into disrepair. This project is intended
to be a pivotal redevelopment event that will encourage a
broad range of related investments in the surrounding community.
All members of the development team are committed
to making MerryPlace a showcase project, with respect to urban
revitalization, workforce
housing, excellence in design and environmental sustainability.
Toward this end, the architectural and landscaping consultants
have been directed to incorporate “green” or sustainable
standards in the design. Green features include: waste minimization
and material recycling during construction, native landscaping,
high efficiency drip irrigation, added building insulation,
Energy Star appliances and fixtures, tankless gas water heaters,
zero VOC paints and caulks, state of the art ventilation and
moisture control systems and an innovative resident education
program that includes financial incentives for energy efficient
living. Residents will also enjoy lower energy bills and healthier
homes.
When completed, all residences in MerryPlace
will meet the Florida Green Building Coalition development
standard. This Green Community certification is an important
part of the ambitious goal to gain national recognition for
MerryPlace, and to demonstrate the viability of high performance
standards for twenty-first century affordable housing.
The affordable rental component of Merry Place
will consist of 128 units in a combination of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom
floor plans. 100% of the units will be rent and income restricted
to households earning between 30% and 60% of the area median
income for Palm Beach County which is currently $64,400 for
a family of four. The rental project will consist of 13 two-story
concrete and stucco buildings built with pitched wood truss
roofs. The project will fulfill a tremendous need for affordable
rental housing in the City of West Palm Beach.
The ownership component of MerryPlace is designated
as “workforce housing”
and homes will be available to families earning no more than
140% of area median income. For sale units include 52 spacious
condominium apartments, 46 townhomes (most with garage) and
sixteen detached single-family homes. All units will be deed
restricted to remain owner occupied. Pre-sales of the first
ownership units will begin in Spring 2007.
Site construction began at MerryPlace in September,
2006, and vertical construction began in January 2007. The
first rental units will be ready for occupancy by September
2007.
Financial assistance for the construction of
MerryPlace has been provided by the Florida Housing Finance
Corporation, and the Palm Beach County Department of Housing
and Community Development. |
