Development within the redevelopment area began in the late 1940s when the area was located on the fringe of the City of Delray Beach, in unincorporated Palm Beach County. Residential development continued at a slow pace into the 1970s with a development pattern that was rural in nature with unpaved roads and no public utilities. In the late 1970s, industrial uses began to be developed west of this area along the Interstate 95 corridor. Automotive-related uses including repair, towing and storage facilities, along with other industrial uses in this area generated noise and commercial traffic through the residential neighborhood. This had a significant effect on the character of the area and the neighborhood declined. By the late 1980s the entire industrial area to the west had been developed.
The area was annexed into the City via the Enclave Act (Enclave #31A), on June 28, 1988. Under County jurisdiction, the area had evolved into a mix of incompatible land uses with limited public infrastructure and little or no code enforcement. As a result, most of the area had deteriorated to a point where private investment had virtually stopped. The area east of Wallace Drive (then Germantown Road) was characterized by single family homes, a few vacant lots and an abandoned gas station site at the southeast corner of SW 10th Street and Wallace Drive. Except for a convenience store located at the southwest corner of SW 10th Street and Wallace Drive, the area west of Wallace Drive was primarily single family homes and vacant lots bordered on the west by industrial uses.
The intent of this plan is to make the Wallace Drive Redevelopment Area a unique place that will encourage the development of light industrial, limited commercial and office uses in an urban setting. This, in turn, should serve as a catalyst to increase property values and increase the City's employment base in the industrial, manufacturing and trade sectors. The Plan includes specific recommendations related to the following: FLUM Amendments & Rezonings; Infrastructure Improvements; Enhanced Code Enforcement; Aesthetic Improvements/Design; Marketing; Funding; and Implementation.
Although the user is encouraged to read the Plan in its entirety, the document has been divided into sections to reduce download time and to allow the reader to focus on specific elements.
