Palm Beach County commissioners have agreed to provide Mangonia Park with up to $5 million for water and wastewater improvements that could support redevelopment of Don King’s long-vacant jai alai fronton. The 52-acre property may draw an auction bid starting around $55 million, while developers have expressed interest in a large mixed-use project.
Key takeaways
- County funding would help address the cost of extending water and sewer service to the site.
- The 52-acre fronton could accommodate roughly 1,500 to 2,000 apartments, along with commercial uses, though plans are not final.
- Any project receiving the federal funding must include housing for households earning no more than 80% of the area median income.
- A potential auction bid could begin at $55 million, but a sale or redevelopment plan has not been finalized.
County funding targets a major infrastructure hurdle
The county’s contribution, approved Sept. 18, would come from Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds and go to the town of Mangonia Park. Town Manager Ken Metcalf has identified the cost of bringing water and wastewater service to the property as a key obstacle to redevelopment.
County officials said the investment would make the county a partner in shaping the eventual project. Commissioner Maria Sachs questioned whether a developer should cover the utility costs, while other commissioners supported using public funds to encourage redevelopment and generate future tax revenue.
Large-scale plans remain uncertain
The vacant Palm Beach Jai Alai fronton, at 1415 45th St., is considered one of South Florida’s largest undeveloped parcels east of Interstate 95. Metcalf said several developers have shown interest. The town has discussed a project with approximately 1,500 to 2,000 apartments and a commercial component, but the number of homes and the mix of uses have not been determined.
The federal funding carries an affordability requirement: housing must serve households earning no more than 80% of the area median income. That threshold is reported as $102,800 for a family of four.
Auction possibility adds another dimension
The property is owned by boxing promoter Don King, and a potential auction could have a starting bid of about $55 million. That prospect does not establish that the site has been sold or that a particular development proposal has been selected. The county’s funding decision instead addresses infrastructure that would be needed if redevelopment moves forward.
Location could support transit and regional growth
Mangonia Park sits between West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach, and the fronton’s proximity to Tri-Rail has been cited as an advantage. Commissioner Marci Woodward, who serves on the commuter rail agency’s board, said redevelopment could help increase ridership.
For the town, the project could turn a long-idle property into housing and commercial space. Its eventual scale, affordability mix, financing and timeline will depend on the development process and the site’s future ownership.