Mickens Moore Bed & Breakfast
In 1917, Haley and Alice Frederick Mickens built their two-story house in the heart of the Northwest Neighborhood. Mickens added a two-story rooming house nearby in 1921. Over the years, famed guests at the Mickens property included Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, A. Philip Randolph, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Ralph Bunche. Seeking to provide an authentic lodging experience in the Historic Northwest, the CRA is investing in a $5 million project to rehabilitate the structures into a bed-and-breakfast that creates an opportunity for a local business person to earn and keep local dollars in the community.
Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation was organized in 1893. The current structure, at 801 9th Street, was designed by Hazel Augustus. Augustus was the first registered Black architect in Palm Beach County. The building, which features stained glass windows and an interior plan very similar to Historic Eastside’s Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church, was dedicated in 1929.
A few years ago, the church was completely restored through a Transfer of Development Rights. For example, if you own a property, for development purposes, you also own the air above it. In 2018, the CRA acquired the development rights for four stories above the sanctuary. By acquiring the air rights and transferring them to a different site, the developer was allowed to add density in another location, and use the revenue to restore a historic landmark within the neighborhood.
Styx Promenade
The Styx Promenade is named in honor of a 19th century Black neighborhood in Palm Beach, that housed mostly Black laborers responsible for the construction of the Breakers and Royal Poinciana hotels. The Styx was erased when Henry Flagler moved its residents across Lake Worth to West Palm Beach.
This CRA redevelopment project was designed with an intent to pay homage to the shotgun-style houses that made up the Styx community, while also catering to small and local start-up businesses. During construction and through a competitive process, the CRA awarded the structures to different local business owners. Located along 7th Street, just west of Heart & Soul Park, the Styx Promenade is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Sunset Lounge
Dating back to 1926, the Sunset Lounge was known as the “Cotton Club of the South” and West Palm Beach’s premier Chitlin’ Circuit venue. The West Palm Beach CRA recently invested $22 million to renovate this iconic music and entertainment destination. It is considered to be the cornerstone of the CRA’s attempts to revive the Northwest Neighborhood. The renovated venue will feature a full-service restaurant and bar on the first floor, a second floor ballroom, third floor mezzanine and a two-story addition with a rooftop bar and patio.
Tamarind Avenue Streetscape & Legacy Businesses
Similarly, Historic Eastside’s A. Philip Randolph Boulevard in Jacksonville, Tamarind Avenue served as a major segregation era commercial thoroughfare for the Northwest community. Today, the West Palm Beach CRA is in the midst of giving the street a $22 million makeover. When completed in 2025, improvements will include new infrastructure such as a new water main, undergrounding overhead utilities, improved sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.
In addition, the West Palm Beach CRA is investing in the rehabilitation of historic commercial storefronts and legacy businesses along the corridor. Examples include the renovation of Hamburger Haven, a family-owned business in operation since the 1940s and a brick and mortar location for D’ Best BBQ, a nearby mobile vendor.
Editorial by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com