West Palm Beach pursuing thousands of affordable and workforce housing units through public‑private partnerships

Mayor Keith James said West Palm Beach is on track to exceed an expanded goal for affordable and workforce housing and credited public‑private partnerships and philanthropic funding for recent gains.

The mayor told a sold‑out State of the City breakfast on Jan. 30 that when he took office he set a goal of 300 affordable and workforce units to be completed or under development within three years and later raised that goal to 1,400 units by the end of his term in 2027. “I’m proud to announce that we’re on track to exceed that goal as well,” Mayor James said.

Why it matters: Housing affordability was a central point of the mayor’s speech because stable housing underpins residents’ ability to work, attend school and access services. The city’s approach relies on incentives and financing tools that attract private investment while aiming to secure units for lower‑income households.

Key facts and recent projects - Since 2019 the mayor said 815 housing units have been completed or are under development; in 2024 he said 263 units entered construction and 269 entered predevelopment stages (figures reported by Mayor Keith James). - The Spruce (Northwood Village) is described as the neighborhood’s single largest private investment; the project will add 117 affordable and workforce units. - A project at 8111 South Dixie will deliver 90 affordable and workforce units on a site that had been vacant for over a decade. - The mayor listed city tools used to attract investment: density bonuses, grant funding, tax increment financing and other strategic incentives.

How it’s being funded and supported - Mayor James credited philanthropic partners and foundations, naming the Unum Foundation and the Related Philanthropic Foundation as contributors to programs supporting small businesses and workforce development that complement housing efforts. He said philanthropic funding has been used in an “innovative” model for some projects but did not specify the complete funding breakdown for each project in the remarks.

What the mayor said next - The mayor framed housing as part of a broader inclusive growth strategy: “Each of those 815 units created since 2019 represents a family holding on to the basic desires that we all have,” he said.

Ending note - The mayor asked partners in the private sector to continue investing in projects that expand affordability and workforce access, saying the city’s incentives create “a framework that attracts private sector investment while advancing our shared commitment to progress.”