Neighborhood Renaissance (formerly known as Northwood Renaissance) has worked in the Northwood area of West Palm Beach to revitalize the commercial district and to maintain affordable housing in the area.
Neighborhood Renaissance's (NR) approach to neighborhood redevelopment is comprehensive and community-based. It works with neighborhood associations, merchants and residents to solve neighborhood planning issues, renovate troubled properties, create affordable homeownership opportunities, complete neighborhood improvements, and to encourage business development and job creation. NR has been working with the Palm Beach office of LISC for a number of years.
NR coordinated the Northwood Road Reconstruction Project that created infrastructure, streetscaping and façade improvements for many of the businesses along Northwood Road (pictures 1/2 at right). The organization has continued this work through attracting and managing small grants for façade improvement to local businesses.
It has also recently completed the reconstruction of a building one block north on 24th Street that will serve a mixed-use purpose. The Courtyard Project building, features 4,500sf of office/retail space and 3 residential apartments (see picture 3 at right).
In 2003, the Loan Fund provided $395,000 in pre-development financing for the acquisition of land that will be used to construct 90 units of multi-family affordable housing and 14,500 sf of retail commercial space for local small businesses in West Palm Beach (see picture 4 at right). An additional loan from FCLF for $15,000 in 2008 provided short-term working capital. The Village Centre project was funded in partnership with the Palm Beach County LISC.
NOTE: CLICK ON PHOTOS AT RIGHT TO ENLARGE.
PHOTOS: (1/2) Northwood Renaissance Model Commercial Block revitalization program; (3) The Courtyard mixed-use retail/office/residential complex; and (4) Proposed Village Centre commercial/retail/affordable housing project.
Additional information on Northwood Renaissance can be found at the NR website .
Your loan to Pleasant Place was the last piece of the puzzle to make the formation of Pleasant Place a reality. Your funding made our mission attainable. You have certainly helped the Gainesville area and us. Keep up the wonderful work.
Gail Jane, Vice Chair, 2/11/2002
, Pleasant Place Board of Directors.
