Miracle on 34th Street
Palm Beach County’s First Model Block.
The Model Block Program in the Northwood community of West Palm
Beach serves as a South Florida best practice case study for
neighborhood revitalization through affordable housing development.
In the Model Block Program, a likely block or two is identified for
comprehensive improvements such as infrastructure improvements,
addition of attractive street lighting and green landscape improvements
along with the purchase and rehabilitation or new construction of homes
that are affordable to low-to moderate-income first-time homebuyers. It
is often difficult to attract homebuyers to urban areas with an aging
infrastructure, large number of absentee owners and deteriorated
housing. The Model Block Program provides visible targeted
comprehensive improvements attracting first-time homebuyers and
creating a positive ripple effect on other revitalization efforts across a
wider area
“Miracle on 34″‘ Street”, the first Model Block Project in Palm Beach County, was undertaken by Neighborhood Renaissance, Inc. (formerly known as Northwood Renaissance) in collaboration among South Florida USC, the City of West Palm Beach and local developer, Complete Property Management, resulting in the purchase, rehabilitation and resale of nine (9) mission style homes, facade improvements to adjacent homes along with street improvements, traffic calming, lush landscaping, and the installation of attractive street lighting. Model Block II was a continuation of Model Block I and expanded improvements to the 600 blocks of 32nd & 33rd Streets. Phase III incorporated a Community Land Trust component to ensure that the newly built Florida-style bungalow homes remain affordable to future generations to come.
In all, the Model Block Program resulted in 33 affordable home ownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income families and an $8 million investment in the neighborhood. Funding sources include City of West Palm Beach HOME & CDBG, Palm Beach County SHIP, and Knight Foundation homebuyer grants administered through USC.