While luxury towers rise downtown, the CRA is trying to save century-old shotgun homes a few blocks west. Here is what the project reveals about the city's two very different housing realities.
- A February 2026 fire destroyed three of six 1924 shotgun homes on Douglass Avenue and damaged a fourth.
- The CRA is asking the Historic Preservation Board to approve rebuilding four structures in the same architectural style.
- All six homes would be sold as affordable housing for residents earning up to 80% of area median income.
Shotgun homes are not only picturesque but historically significant. More common in some parts of the South than others, West Palm Beach's Northwest Historic District still has a handful built in 1924. So when a fire on February 1 destroyed three and severely damaged a fourth, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), which funds improvements in designated areas, stepped in. The agency is now asking the Historic Preservation Board to approve rebuilding four structures in the same architectural style and selling all six as affordable housing. According to the South Florida Business Journal, the homes would be reserved for residents making up to 80% of area median income. But the project raises a bigger question about what it actually takes to move a neighborhood like this forward.
What is being proposed?
The CRA owns the 0.14-acre property at 610-620 Douglass Avenue. The February fire destroyed three homes (610-614 Douglass Ave) and extensively damaged a fourth (616 Douglass Ave). The remaining two (618-620 Douglass Ave) sustained only minor damage.
The CRA's request to the Historic Preservation Board includes demolishing the damaged home at 616 Douglass Ave and reconstructing four new structures to replace the destroyed and damaged homes, maintaining the same shotgun-style architectural character. The two surviving homes at 618-620 Douglass Ave will be rehabilitated under the original plan.
Under the original plan (still in place), all rehabilitated and rebuilt homes would be transferred to Neighborhood Renaissance, a West Palm Beach-based nonprofit, for sale as affordable housing reserved for residents making up to 80% of area median income.
What is a shotgun home?
Shotgun homes are narrow, rectangular houses where all rooms are arranged front to back in a straight line. The style traces from West Africa to Haiti to New Orleans, then spread across the American South after the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804). By the 1830s, the design had become common in working-class neighborhoods across the region.
The name comes from the idea that you could fire a shotgun through the front door and the bullet would exit the back without hitting a wall, because every room opens directly into the next. Some scholars trace the word to a West African term for the housing type instead.
These homes are not just buildings. They are physical evidence of the Northwest Historic District's heritage and early development. Rebuilding in the same shotgun style preserves the character of a neighborhood that predates everything happening in downtown West Palm Beach today.
Why does this matter for West Palm Beach?
This is really a story about the two cities within one city. A few blocks east, developers are building $2 million-plus condos at Banyan Tree, The Berkeley, and Mr. C. Here, the CRA is trying to preserve affordable housing in century-old shotgun homes for residents earning around $83,000 a year.
As Larry Mastropieri explained on the Discover South Florida Podcast: "The neighborhood has incredible potential because of where it sits, but it is not an easy place. You are close to downtown, close to Nora, and close to major redevelopment, but the operating environment is still tough. That is why I have strong opinions on this area."
West Palm Beach has recently begun transferring city-owned land at no cost or symbolic value to developers and nonprofits for affordable projects. Other recent land transfers include parcels conveyed to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County, the Quantum Foundation, and vacant land for a project backed by former NFL linebacker Jonathan Vilma.
Looking at properties in West Palm Beach? Talk to a West Palm Beach real estate agent who understands how redevelopment is reshaping different neighborhoods at different speeds. Reach out to The Mastropieri Group or call (561) 556-9853.
What is the bigger question here?
Larry added: "This may only be a handful of shotgun homes, but the bigger question is what kind of neighborhood the city is trying to create. Are we preserving history, improving housing, or trying to slowly pull the area forward block by block? Those are different strategies, and they move at different speeds."
The Northwest Historic District sits just blocks from major redevelopment like Nora, but the neighborhood still has serious challenges and does not transform overnight just because a few homes are restored. Historic preservation can be part of the strategy, but meaningful neighborhood improvement requires understanding the operating reality, the zoning limits, and the much slower pace of change on that side of the tracks.
The CRA's decision to rebuild in the same shotgun style rather than replace with modern construction reflects a shift in how cities view these structures. In the 1960s and '70s, urban planners viewed shotgun homes as symbols of poverty and demolished them during urban renewal. Today, preservation groups recognize them as architecturally and culturally significant.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Shotgun Homes and Affordable Housing in West Palm Beach
What is a shotgun house?
A shotgun house is a narrow, rectangular home where all rooms are arranged in a straight line from front to back, with no hallway. The style originated in West Africa and spread to the American South through Haiti and New Orleans. Shotgun homes were common in working-class neighborhoods throughout the early 20th century.
What is the Northwest Historic District in West Palm Beach?
The Northwest Historic District is one of West Palm Beach's oldest neighborhoods. Douglass Avenue and surrounding streets contain early 20th century housing, including the 1924 shotgun homes now being rebuilt by the CRA. The district sits just blocks from major downtown redevelopment.
What is 80% of area median income in Palm Beach County?
Based on HUD's median household income of approximately $104,000 for Palm Beach County, 80% of area median income is roughly $83,200 per year. This is the income threshold for the affordable housing units being created on Douglass Avenue.
How is West Palm Beach addressing affordable housing?
West Palm Beach has begun transferring city-owned land at no cost or symbolic value to developers and nonprofits for affordable housing projects. Recent transfers include parcels to Habitat for Humanity, Quantum Foundation, and land for a project backed by former NFL linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Removing land costs helps make affordable projects financially viable.
What is a Community Redevelopment Agency?
A Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a public entity that uses tax increment financing to fund improvements in designated areas. The West Palm Beach CRA owns the Douglass Avenue property and is leading the effort to rebuild the shotgun homes as affordable housing while preserving the neighborhood's historic character.
Local help for buyers in West Palm Beach
If you are buying, selling, or investing in West Palm Beach, understanding how different neighborhoods are changing at different speeds matters. Reach out to The Mastropieri Group, Realtors®.
For practical, hands-on support across West Palm Beach, call (561) 556-9853.
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