A long-stalled affordable housing project in Pahokee is moving again, thanks in part to a new contractor on the job.
The Everglades Townhomes project is back under construction, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2027, WPTV 5 reported.
The project
Everglades Townhomes will have 60 townhome-style rental units for households earning no more than 60% of the area's median income, according to Carlos Serrano, deputy director of Palm Beach County's Department of Housing and Economic Development. For a family of four, that limit is about $77,000 a year, WPTV reported.
What went wrong
Serrano said the biggest delay came after construction had already started, when a dispute turned into a legal fight. That stalled construction for more than a year and a half, according to WPTV.
"More recently, the developer has got a new contractor on board," Serrano said. "That new contractor has mobilized, commenced construction in August, and as we speak, construction is underway on the project again."
WPTV's report did not name the developer, the original contractor or the new contractor, and did not detail the dispute.
A WPTV visit to the site showed visible progress. Some buildings have been painted and have windows and doors installed, while work continues on other structures.
"Hold on, it's coming," Serrano said. "We're back underway. Construction is moving along and is projected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027."
A resident's push
The update came after Pahokee native Consuela Cunningham Benjamin traveled to West Palm Beach to urge county commissioners to make finishing the project a priority.
"I joined the military, served in the Army in hopes of returning home to adequate housing," she told commissioners, according to WPTV. "It has yet to be completed, has taken five years to complete, and still is not complete."
She asked county and state leaders to work with Pahokee on "a clear recovery plan with responsible oversight and qualified development partners, identify funding, measurable milestones, and realistic completion time."
Commissioners directed county staff to provide an update and look at options.
WPTV said it contacted every Pahokee city commissioner over three weeks and had not heard back as of publication.
More projects in the Glades
Serrano said the Glades region has long suffered from disinvestment and deteriorating housing.
"There's a substantial need for affordable housing in Pahokee and throughout the Glades region of the county," he said.
Everglades Townhomes is one of several affordable projects planned in the area, according to WPTV:
- One North Lake in Pahokee, a proposed development with 50 affordable apartments
- Calusa Pointe in Belle Glade, expected to include about 160 affordable apartments
"This is an area that has acute housing needs, so the county works with both its municipal partners out in the Glades area as well as private industry and financial institutions to try to pull together these deals and see some housing come out of the ground," Serrano said.
Why it matters for contractors
This is a story about what happens when a job goes sideways, and how it gets back on track. A legal dispute after construction began stopped a 60-unit affordable project for more than 18 months. A new contractor mobilized in August, and now the county expects completion in early 2027.
For contractors, the lesson is familiar: clear contracts, good documentation and solid relationships with owners and lenders matter, especially on publicly supported affordable housing where delays draw attention from residents and elected officials.
There's also opportunity here. Projects that stall often need a replacement contractor to step in and finish, and that work goes to firms with a record of delivering. With One North Lake and Calusa Pointe in the pipeline, the Glades could see more than 200 more affordable units. Builders in Palm Beach County who can handle remote sites and affordable housing requirements should keep an eye on those projects.