WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A new affordable apartment building has been constructed in downtown West Palm Beach for the first time in 30 years. The Flagler Station Apartment is situated on Tamarind Avenue and Banyan Boulevard, just a few blocks away from downtown and major transportation hubs.
The project, which was a public-private partnership with the city, took nearly 12 years to materialize. Now, 94 new families have the opportunity to reside, work, and enjoy life in downtown West Palm Beach.
Mayor Keith James emphasized that Flagler Station provides a much-needed home for individuals and families, regardless of their financial circumstances. The rent for the apartments varies based on the resident’s annual income, with units set aside for those earning no more than 30, 60, 70, or 80 percent of the area’s median income.
Matthew Rieger, CEO of the Housing Trust Group, expressed the ambition and different approach in creating affordable housing during the project’s development.
The apartment complex offers modern amenities like a state-of-the-art fitness center, a community center, and a rooftop pool for the residents’ convenience and comfort.
Named after Henry Flagler, the historic industrialist who built the Florida East Coast Railway (FECR), Flagler Station incorporates some of the original, now defunct FECR tracks into a linear park adorned with original artwork and murals.
The city’s plan is to expand this park along the rest of the rail right-of-way, creating a “rails to trails” conversion to support the transportation and mobility plan adopted in 2018. The city aims to reduce car traffic and promote pedestrian-friendly spaces through an integrated system of bike lanes, busways, train stations, trolley routes, sidewalks, and roads.
The successful realization of this project is a result of the collaboration between the Housing Trust Group and the City of West Palm Beach. The complex’s total cost was around $35 million, secured through funding from various sources, including state and federal agencies.
Despite the achievement, Rieger highlighted the need for more resources, particularly federal support, to address the scale of the housing issue adequately.
Grateful residents, like Aliuska Hernandez, share their appreciation for having found an affordable place to call home in West Palm Beach. All 94 units at Flagler Station Apartments are already occupied, demonstrating the demand and importance of such housing initiatives in the community.
