Suburban Applications: Palm Beach County
The urban form of Palm Beach County is suburban and embodies the consequences of rapid urban sprawl. In recent years the state of Florida has experienced rapid population gains, in 2022, “Florida [was] the nation’s fastest-growing state… Florida's population increased by 1.9% to 22,244,823 between 2021 and 2022” (Census, 2022). A market analysis of West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach conducted by HUD in 2021 found, “the average home sales price rose 24 percent, to $535,100” (HUD, 2021). This dramatic price increases is credited to the increase in demand due to the migration of people from other states. This sort of sudden increase in the housing market prices out existing residents, particularly low-income renters. These factors make Palm Beach County and other suburban areas ideal candidates for co-location because there is a dire need for affordable and workforce housing to accommodate the increase in demand and population.
Palm Beach County is heavily dependent on cars for transportation. This makes it harder for low-income and elderly residents to reach social services. As seen in San Francisco, the co-location of the library and affordable housing made social services more accessible for residents who needed them the most. In 2020, residents over the age of 65 made up 25.2% of the population (Census, 2024). This is significantly higher than the national average, and with the rise of housing costs, this population is at risk in the same way as the elderly discussed in San Francisco. Also, due to urban sprawl many senior living facilities can be isolating for residents who can no longer drive. As demonstrated by San Francisco, co-location can increase social interaction among seniors, which leads to a significant boost in health.
Palm Beach County, and Florida in general has historically lacked investment in affordable housing. This resistance on a local level comes from the phenomenon known as “NIMBY” or not in my backyard. Proponents of NIMBY often recognize the public good of a project, however, believe it should not be placed in their neighborhood (Hermansson, 2006). A survey of affluent homeowners found, “respondents indicate concern about the effect affordable housing may have on property values, crime, and local schools” (Tighe, 2009, p.972). This is a major roadblock for affordable housing in suburban communities and is influenced by the stigma of past affordable housing projects, like the one mentioned in Chicago. However, these attitudes mirror what happened in Chicago during the 1960s, believing that it is more acceptable to concentrate the poorest residents in small neighborhoods away from richer communities. Co-location in Palm Beach County, with mixed-income units, anchored by a service used by everyone, could ease the fears of existing homeowner concerns, and disassociate the stigma surrounding affordable housing.