EPA GRANT RECIPIENT: PROJECT PARTNERS:

The South Florida Regional Planning

Council provided $800,000 in EPA

Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund

funding to the Housing Trust Group

of Florida, LLC.

Housing Trust Group of Florida, LLC;

Housing Finance Authority of Palm Beach

County; Florida Department of

Environmental Protection; County of Palm

Beach; City of West Palm Beach

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Since the beginning of 2004, the affordable housing market in West Palm Beach has been significantly decimated due

to condominium conversions and hurricanes. The Housing Trust Group of Florida, LLC was able to provide one

solution to this problem through the conversion of a former golf course into much needed affordable housing. The

Palm Beach Lakes Golf Course was closed in 1996 after almost 30 years of operation. High concentrations of arsenic

in the soil, surface water, and ground water contaminated the property as a result of many years of fertilizer,

herbicide, and pesticide use. Funded by an $800,000 EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund loan, cleanup activities

began in December 2003 and included the excavation and removal of contaminated soil. By February 2005, all cleanup

activities were completed. Institutional controls in the form of a deed restriction prohibiting the use of ground water

for any purpose are required for the property.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Leveraged approximately $30 million in public and private funding through sources

such as revenue bonds, tax credits (low-income and voluntary cleanup), and a sales

tax rebate

• Resulted in 264 multi-family apartments for low and moderate

income families

• Considered a model in the State of Florida for the use of Voluntary Cleanup

Tax Credits (VCTC)

• First brownfield affordable housing project to be funded by the Housing

Finance Authority

OUTCOME:

In June 2004 redevelopment commenced on the Malibu Bay property and by fall 2005, 264 apartments became available

for low and moderate income families. As of March 2007, the high-density residential development is completely rented

with a waiting list. The project has significantly spurred redevelopment nearby, including the construction of market rate

condominiums and townhomes, retail shops, restaurants, and plans for a hotel and more residential development. As a

result of the Malibu Bay development’s success, housing organizations throughout the state are more willing to finance

brownfields projects, including those with an affordable housing component.

A Hole in One for Revolving Loan Fund Program

brownfields at-a-glance

MALIBU BAY PROPERTY South Florida Regional Planning Council

Revolving Loan Fund Grant

EPA-560-F-07-214

June 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the EPA Brownfields Web site at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ or call EPA Region 4 at (404) 562-8682

ADDRESS: 750 Malibu Bay Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

PROPERTY SIZE: 14 acres

FORMER USES: Golf course

CURRENT USE: Rental apartments for low and moderate income families For additional data and

geographic information

for this and other

Brownfields Grants,

please visit EPA’s:

Envirofacts -

www.epa.gov/enviro/

html/bms/

bms_query.html

Enviromapper -

www.epa.gov/enviro/bf

The completed Malibu Bay Apartments.