By Louise Weithas

Key West's future, in the face of spiraling real estate prices, condo conversions and new development, is being reshaped. The values many of us cherish are being threatened by greed. What is most unfortunate is the number of people who have been captivated by the opportunity for quick material gains with little concern for the extreme consequences.

As we embark on a new year, my hope is that our community's changing face can be held up to scrutiny by all the citizens and they will find a semblance of rationality and sensibility in the development taking place. This can only occur if all construction is held to the same standards with obedience to existing ordinances, building restrictions and laws, also with awareness and contemplation of past mistakes.

There is a dark side of progress that can swiftly and irrevocably damage the heart and soul of a neighborhood. The dark side usually is caused by the trend toward self service and greed. Fast money can be had in a rapidly escalating real estate market by investors with deep pockets and unscrupulous motives. This can be stemmed by citizens challenging the way things are being done.

A case in point is the Watermark project at the Jabour site. The historic seaport area is my neighborhood and of immediate concern. What this project will ultimately do to the area is of great concern to the vast majority of my neighbors. Citizens living in Old Town have a right and a responsibility to question each major project that intrudes into their neighborhood, because, actually, in the end, the residents are responsible for what happens to their neighborhood and they are the ones that pay the price of mistakes.

As a community grows and develops, it has a choice: to work to retain its distinctive character or not. When a community loses its sense of place, it becomes generic. The spirit of that community is lost and it becomes "Anywhere USA." Our waterfront in Key West is accessible to all, while Florida as a whole has lost its people-friendly coast. That is a reason Key West has seen a surge in new residents and tourists who come because Key West has managed so far to retain its flavor, and public access to waterfront activities and views. Being diligent and aware when encroaching development threatens is being smart.

Challenging bad decisions affecting our neighborhood is even smarter. We can't afford to wait, for then we only mourn our loss. Those who are standing up to the developers of the Jabour site, Watermark condos, are to be lauded. This fight for appropriateness is a fight worth taking.

This is a pivotal project that could change the look of our waterfront area and all of Caroline Street. Developers are continuously looking for new lucrative opportunities. The Caroline Street corridor and the whole historic seaport area is being appraised. If they get what they want with this project, they will continue to look for other opportunities.

A favorite ploy is to come in asking for much more than what is desired, then to appear as if willing to compromise. Some developers try and win sympathy by claiming they are locals themselves, however they do not live in this neighborhood, not even in Old Town, and usually not even in the vicinity but rather on an adjoining key. Smart growth is a must if we are to coexist as a city of neighborhoods and a city of tourism.

[The Historic Architecture Review Commission] raised many eyebrows and hard questions when it was thought they unconscionably passed the Watermark project. Now the Planning Commission is set to review the plan. I hope the commission carefully considers the ramifications of this structure and its impact on the neighborhood. It does not meld into the surroundings nor does it enhance the existing character. In fact, it intrudes into the lives of the neighbors. I fully understand the rights of land owners and I understand the investors' decision to build condominiums, as it gives them the highest payback.

The issue here is design, size, height and bulk. The thought of these developers missing an opportunity to design and build a traditional Key West structure following the existing ordinances and guidelines of proportion and size that enhances rather than intrudes is a sad commentary on our times.

We are the stewards of our cities and of our neighborhoods. We trust our commissioners, boards, governing bodies and city staff to care about the unique character of Key West and be willing to do something about preserving it. That is what residents and tourists alike come here for. When a natural resource is gone, it cannot be regained.

Louise Weithas lives on Peacon Lane, near the Key West Bight.