At first glance, golf courses may not appear to be Brownfields but, after many years of maintenance with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, what is left behind can present some challenging environmental issues. When a golf course in West Palm Beach closed, the inherent problems of such past usage made redevelopment of the site a somewhat discouraging idea. However, with uninhibited vision and some creative financing, a developer saw the potential in such a project.

The trick was to pull a team of people together to share the vision. Subsequently, the developer partnered with the Palm Beach County Housing Authority, offering an idea for constructing 264 affordable housing units, which would be one of four separate components of the development. To kick off the development, a big box retailer and a franchise restaurant was brought in to anchor a commercial element for the project. Thereafter, a $1.2M Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan was obtained to assist in the remediation of approximately 14 acres. Matching the developer’s almost $3M investment, the housing authority issued $20M in Multifamily Housing Revenue and Taxable bonds that were guaranteed by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

The commercial component was the first to be completed and realized immediate success. Before construction of the residential units even began, fifty percent were already sold or leased. By 2006 all the units were constructed and Phase 3 of the project commenced. What could have been a lost opportunity was saved by the foresight of a developer who recognized the benefits of Brownfields redevelopment and had the vision to pursue its possibilities. Through their own vision and commitment, the officials and communities of Palm Beach County became the recipients of one more Brownfields Success Story.

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