Kelvin VerhovlyakGreat Blue Residences project now goes to the City Council.
A developer is planning a 140-unit affordable apartment building for seniors and disabled people in Riviera Beach.
Great Blue Residences, envisioned near West Blue Heron Boulevard, would expand the supply of affordable housing for seniors meeting some of the lowest income levels in the rapidly growing city.
Sun Foundation and Riviera Beach-based Rich Global are the lead developers. The partners are also building senior housing in Mangonia Park.
“Seniors on fixed incomes face growing pressures to remain in the communities they’ve called home for decades,” Jordan Sperling, the developer’s agent, said at the Aug. 13 Planning and Zoning Board meeting.
The board approved the project on 2 acres of vacant property north of West Blue Heron Boulevard. The site is on Avenue S across the street from John F. Kennedy Middle School.
The 140 one-bedroom apartments would be financed in part with $11.5 million in Palm Beach County housing bonds. The Palm Beach County Housing Authority would manage the property.
- 56 units would go to households at 30% or lower of the area median income, about $27,000. The developer expects the rent to be about $770 a month including utilities.
- 84 units would go to households at 80% or lower of the area median income, about $72,000. Rent is anticipated to be about $1,650 a month including utilities.
It’s unusual for affordable housing projects to be built for residents at 30% of AMI. Recent projects in Riviera Beach and West Palm Beach start at 60% or 80% of AMI. Many subsidized projects go as high as 120% of AMI.
Tenants would sign a one-year lease. To qualify, they must be 62 years or older. People 55 and over who are disabled could also qualify.
“The structure allows residents to choose which programs they want to participate in,” Sperling said. For example, meal services would be available. “It enables them to maintain their independence for as long as possible while promoting aging in place and long-term housing stability,” he said.
If the project wins City Council approval, developers expect to begin construction immediately. Great Blue Residences could open as soon as 2028.
Who wrote this story: This story was reported by Community Voices writer Kelvin Verhovlyak.
What is CV: Community Voices is a partnership between Stet News and Inlet Grove High School that trains and pays teens to cover the news. The Pew Family Fund and the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties generously support Community Voices.
Stet’s Liz Capozzi and Carolyn DiPaolo contributed to this story.
