Commission approves conveyance of 614th Street parcel to Habitat for Humanity

The West Palm Beach City Commission on Jan. 5 approved Resolution 5-26 to convey city-owned property at 614th Street to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County for development of a single-family affordable home. Kimberly Spence, interim director of housing and community development, told the commission the parcel sits at 14th Street and Henrietta Avenue in Commission District 1 and is roughly 0.15 acres and vacant.

Spence described the planned house as a three-bedroom, two-bath home of about 1,200 to 1,400 square feet, to be sold to a qualified buyer with income at or below 80% of area median income. “The conveyance agreement requires that Habitat will construct a single family home and sell it to a qualified buyer at or below 80% AMI,” Spence said, and it includes a construction timeline requiring completion within 24 months of closing.

She said the agreement contains a 30-year restrictive covenant requiring owner-occupancy for the affordability period and a city right of reverter if the terms are not met, and that Habitat must provide monthly progress reports so the city can monitor compliance. Spence recommended approval of Resolution 5-26.

A commissioner moved and another seconded the resolution; with no discussion from the dais and no public opposition, the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: the conveyance proceeds under the terms described in the contract; the agreement requires Habitat to provide ongoing progress reports and the city retains enforcement tools including reverter provisions if the affordability terms are not satisfied.