[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6186325,"mediaKeyId","5077822-ddcece5e3119fac54d7c10c1a67a7c5f","parentId",5077822,"title","CRA approves lease-to-purchase for Vegan Fine Foods at 719 North Sapodilla Avenue","audioSeconds",1734,"startMs",1220000,"endMs",2954000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5077822-ddcece5e3119fac54d7c10c1a67a7c5f&start=1220&end=2954","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5077822-ddcece5e3119fac54d7c10c1a67a7c5f/thumbnail_1220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6186325/West-Palm-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/CRA-approves-lease-to-purchase-for-Vegan-Fine-Foods-at-719-North-Sapodilla-Avenue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186325-ad4da7f8a55befbb6b5139262d9a4b37/orig.mp4?Expires=1773554501&Signature=oX7TYLVkyd~l306C5~ytjTmx1gX05PI4KgDp6sEajxkdOyald-trqQSgRmUNtzv7YWJju-60t9pGBZ40tg~F0xMkt71G7fEUGOEc4kbeVpNQ-eszDJ3Ncwvqhm4JW3AVeywkaTDedm03SzAV323BiUq7wWkiY3SgvalEgqkzlWc5ngcXyeNY-S8MBpYbHuM7iHO~bAQ6jn4w9XcyOAtrJPHC3H2u-M7w0QiXstlapTDfn-gCo88zBFxJsEu71qvVwagUOXqIT9e9qEMwwdoW~2wKqPJlwRB1ghQhCApTYSrqZzSzOYAQxZvGeIlVSwt9PIgcc0zaKndvm4lU4i25Tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Palm Beach, FL","date","2025-06-24T12:29:09Z","article","The City of West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency on June 23 approved Resolution 25-30, authorizing a commercial lease with a purchase option for 719 North Sapodilla Avenue to Vegan Fine Foods (WP no. WB VFF LLC) for use as a restaurant, eatery or food market.

Robbie Sami, economic development staff, said the CRA issued a notice of disposition for the parcel after a 2024 rehab and received Vegan Fine Foods’ letter of intent in May 2025. He said the CRA received an appraisal valuing the property at $1,300,000 and negotiated a $700,000 sale price; Vegan Fine Foods will contribute approximately $700,000 in startup costs toward build-out and equipment.

Business owner Steven Smith described Vegan Fine Foods’ history and plans. The company opened in Fort Lauderdale in March 2018 and operated an all-vegan market and prepared-foods concept. Smith said the West Palm Beach location will be branded Vegan Fine Foods Kitchen and Bar: a fast-casual, plant-based restaurant with a full-service bar, outdoor patio and retail products, plus a produce market and prepared-meal offerings. Co-founder Joseph Williams Sr. outlined planned community benefits, including educational events for children and seniors, cooking classes, internship and employment opportunities, fresh-produce markets and partnerships with local groups and neighborhood programs.

Sami described the proposed economics: based on the tenant’s business plan, a five-year average profit of about $160,000 would imply a target rent of roughly $56,000 per year (about $4,667 per month). The lease term will be no longer than 12 years with no automatic renewal; the tenant may exercise a purchase option at or before year 10 at the negotiated purchase price of $700,000. Staff said rent payments would be credited toward the purchase price if the tenant exercises the option. The tenant will be responsible for utilities, taxes and insurance; CRA staff said equipment purchased for build-out would be inventoried and would remain with the building in the event of a default.

Sami told the board the project is expected to create about 25 positions within five years; he calculated an economic impact figure that included wages and the building sale. The board discussed affordability, operations and neighborhood connections. Commissioner Ward and others urged the owners to coordinate with existing neighborhood programs (food pantry, community gardens and culinary training) and flagged that access to a commercial kitchen can be an inhibitor for community-market partnerships. Gina Baker, senior project manager for the Historic Northwest, said 719 North Sapodilla will function as neighborhood commercial with on-site parking (about eight spaces) and available on-street parking along Sapodilla and Seventh Street.

Commissioner Fox moved approval of Resolution 25-30; the motion was seconded (speaker who seconded not identified in the transcript). The motion carried unanimously. The CRA congratulated the owners and encouraged partnership with local programs such as the West Palm Beach Center for Arts and Technology.

Board members asked staff to monitor the lease-to-purchase timeline and to confirm details of the equipment inventory and how startup investments would be handled if the tenant did not exercise the purchase option.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CRA Meeting | June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The CRA unanimously authorized Resolution 25-30 to enter a lease with purchase option for 719 North Sapodilla Avenue with Vegan Fine Foods; staff and the business outlined operational plans, community programs and the proposed financial structure.","taxTitle","West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",4250,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6186330,"West Palm Beach CRA approves 1-year extension for Transit Village incentive agreement",595,598000,1193000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5077822-ddcece5e3119fac54d7c10c1a67a7c5f&start=598&end=1193","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5077822-ddcece5e3119fac54d7c10c1a67a7c5f/thumbnail_598000.jpg","/articles/6186330/West-Palm-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/West-Palm-Beach-CRA-approves-1-year-extension-for-Transit-Village-incentive-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6186330-98dfc08bcf5d7874669f29ecd2331539/orig.mp4?Expires=1773554501&Signature=fo05aqeBYYDLKfOZsGtxiTVpzwRYUroljfl2ePYRE-MOvWGsV9fWywnkU-RpecIw4UR5Qh6l24pEDpHQzSVBM-BXWOvEf3i2Pz2IoLUyX1Y7kwjnGcSdklTHNqeiLNW8hvWk1mL-wZAsYyPJ7dmacw6Pk6QDCqBytsnBqfYh1kZEx~JRZR2KXyNEu5-rkZc04pulHwtuXnQeUt6D-zwdke9ZeaxkLs1E5OB4qm8OqE45-Zmri9N-6LQTPApUBU6yNcFHkrIgLNajb9MIWfdVrB02FDCMvOIL7keQSyG-3~nLEw2QHKZ~XjjscTpxq8sm3RXoLkedcfSCzJoSMG6X0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency on June 23 unanimously approved Resolution 25-27, extending the incentive agreement with Transit Village LLC for one year to allow the developer more time to begin vertical construction.

The extension covers the wedge parcel owned by Palm Beach County at the corner of Banyan Boulevard and Tamarind Avenue, just west of the Tri-Rail station. CRA staff said the project — known as Transit Village and led by Related Group — envisions four mixed-use towers, a public podium adjacent to the train station and workforce housing. Staff recommended the extension so the developer could proceed toward construction without losing the previously negotiated incentives.

CRA staff member Mr. Rube told the board the developer \"is expecting to have the building under construction by this time next year,\" and said all other terms of the original incentive agreement remain in force. Under that agreement, 100% of the taxes generated by the improved value of the site would be returned to the project up to the lesser of $25,000,000 or the documented cost to construct the public podium; those payments are made annually as property taxes are collected.

Commissioners pressed staff for details about the agreement's construction trigger and housing mix. President Lambert asked whether vertical construction of the public podium — including foundation and above-grade work — must occur first; Mr. Rube said the agreement requires vertical construction of the public podium and that the developer felt confident it could reach that milestone within the extension period but staff would monitor progress.

Commissioner Warren asked whether the developer was Related Group or “Related Ross.” Mr. Rube replied, \"that is correct. It is Related Group out of Miami.\" Several commissioners praised the project's community benefits program and its workforce housing component; Commissioner Warren called the community benefits an important and pioneering element.

Board members also discussed legal and timeline risks. Mr. Rube acknowledged there are unresolved legal challenges between Transit Village and Palm Beach County but said the developer expressed confidence the issues would be resolved and that the county likewise would like to see the project move forward.

Commissioner Fox moved approval of Resolution 25-27; the motion was seconded (speaker who seconded not identified in the transcript). The motion carried unanimously.

Staff recommended the extension to preserve the project's community benefits and the CRA's strategic goal of creating a multimodal transportation hub around the Seaboard/Tri-Rail station. Board members asked staff to return with additional details on the workforce housing breakdown (including the reported micro-unit count) and any changes to the construction timeline as the project progresses.

The action extends the time the developer has to achieve the agreement's construction milestone but does not change the underlying incentives or community benefits described in the original 2018 agreement.","The City of West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency unanimously approved a 12-month extension to the incentive agreement with Transit Village LLC (Related Group) to allow additional time to begin vertical construction of a transit-oriented mixed-use project near the Tri-Rail station.","actionData","errors"]

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CRA approves lease-to-purchase for Vegan Fine Foods at 719 North Sapodilla Avenue

West Palm Beach CRA approves 1-year extension for Transit Village incentive agreement