Micro-unit apartments planned near Tri-Rail stop

March 9, 2022

By Brian Bandell for South Florida Business Journal

A developer has proposed an 8-story apartment building in downtown West Palm Beach that would primarily have micro units.

The city’s Plans and Plats Review Committee on March 10 will consider plans for the Solana apartments at 992 and 996 Datura St., near the Tri-Rail passenger rail stop. Commercial Florida Realty Ventures LLC, managed by George Sacks as president of Boca Raton-based Commercial Florida Realty Partners, has the vacant site of 0.39 acres under contract from Datura Station I LLC, managed by Peter Collins in Fort Lauderdale.

Solana would total 46,130 square feet of interior space, with 65 apartments, two live-work units for a combined 1,981 square feet and a 47-space parking garage. Amenities would include garden decks on both the fourth floor and the roof and a coworking center in the lobby, but there would be no fitness center or pool.

Solana would have 53 micro units, ranging from 412 to 426 square feet. The other 12 apartments would range from 621 square feet with one bedroom to 855 square feet with two bedrooms.

West Palm Beach-based attorney Harvey Oyer, who represents the developer in the application, couldn’t be reached for comment. Modis Architects in Miami designed the project.

With apartment rents increasing rapidly in West Palm Beach, micro-unit buildings can offer a more affordable price point to renters. Yet, their rent per square foot is often similar to other apartment buildings, which is a nice perk for developers. Of course, that means tenants have to sacrifice some living space.

While Solana has less than one parking space per unit, it could benefit from being near the Tri-Rail station and the many employers within walking or biking distance in downtown West Palm Beach.

Meanwhile, the Related Group is among the partners in the Transit Village mixed-use project slated for the other side of the Tri-Rail station.

External Source: Florida Commercial Realty Partners plans Solana micro-unit apartments in West Palm Beach – South Florida Business Journal (bizjournals.com)