HOBE SOUND, FL – The Tradewinds at Hobe Sound is a new development being constructed in Hobe Sound between U.S 1 and SE Dixie Highway. The 177-unit apartment complex includes amenities such as fitness center, clubhouse, swimming pool and a dog park, according to its website.
Kasey DeMarr has lived in Hobe Sound for over a year and a half. She said she prefers luxury apartments and thinks the Tradewinds should be a good fit.
“It’s a great idea because it allows more people to have chances to live in a nicer area,” DeMarr said, “Down in Jupiter, the prices have just skyrocketed up and you can’t really get a place anywhere.”
Tom Reed is also a recent resident of Hobe Sound. He moved to Hobe Sound in February. He said he is worried about the direction that Hobe Sound is going in with the addition of Tradewinds at Hobe Sound.
“Luxury housing is for the rich people,” said Reed. “They are essentially invading our community.”
“When you bring these rich guys in, they are going to drive up the prices of people who aren’t able to afford luxury housing,”’ he said. “They wouldn’t be able to afford rent. They get driven out and might go homeless.”
Reed said luxury housing will destroy Hobe Sound.
“I don’t wanna be out of a house because some rich guys come sweeping in,” said Reed.
Hobe Sound Commissioner Harold Jenkins said the public raised issues about attainable housing.
One-third of the housing will meet the state’s definition of workforce housing.
According to the Palm Beach county website, the workforce housing program serves the housing needs of people employed in jobs that the general population of the community relies upon to make the community economically viable.
All designated workforce housing units will be offered to income qualified households with incomes from 60% to 140% of area median income.
The majority of the service industry live mostly in Port St. Lucie, said Jenkins.
the workforce housing will focus on police and fire as well as teachers, said Jenkins.
“If we want to keep our business community healthy, and provide them with the workers necessary to maintain their viability, it’s really important that we provide some form of attainable housing,” said Jenkins.
The Tradewinds at Hobe Sound is expected to be complete in a year and a half, according to its website.