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Institute suggests selling waterfront land to fund needs
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA
keysnews.com
KEY WEST —
Consultants recommended Wednesday that the city sell a large chunk of
Truman Waterfront for high-priced condominiums in order to raise
millions for community projects there or at other locations in the city.
The 33 acres
of former Navy property, conveyed to the city last year, has been a
source of debate for years as to its best use. Parks and an
assisted-living center are two top goals.
Urban Land
Institute representatives were brought in for a three-day review to help
the city figure out how to fund those goals. A number of groups donated
portions of the institute's $20,000 fee.
The
representatives, who are considered experts in land-use planning and
donate their time to the institute, said first the city should build a
marina at the Truman Waterfront. The area adjoins the Outer Mole Pier
still owned by the Navy but used by the city for cruise ship docking.
The marina would be used to generate money and interest for commercial
business and passive recreation.
The idea of
putting pricey condominiums on the piece of prime waterfront property is
not sitting well with Key West Commissioner Harry Bethel.
"That's the
last thing we need out there," Bethel said. "I don't know where [the
Urban Land Institute representatives] are coming from. I don't like the
way this is smelling."
The
institute's representatives pointed out that building parks costs money
for things such as bathrooms and lights. Streets and walkways also need
to be extended to the waterfront to make the area more accessible, they
said during a presentation Wednesday limited to participants chosen by
the group's sponsor, the Rodel Foundation. Currently only Southard
Street provides access to the waterfront.
"There is not
enough property there to do everything people want to be done there,"
said Mike Buchanan, a retired banker and institute volunteer. "There are
a lot of demands, a lot of ideas and a small piece of property. It can
do an awful lot of good if carefully developed."
"The city
needs to be creative in its approach," Buchanan added.
The Urban Land
Institute recommended swapping some of the land so the city could build
affordable housing and a senior care facility in another part of town
where there is more land. Representatives said the plan would allow the
city to maximize use and profits on the valuable waterfront property.
The Navy
handed the property to the city with a caveat requiring that the city
keep 60 percent of the land as open space or passive recreation. The
Urban Land Institute recommended that market rate homes be placed on the
remaining 40 percent. Those homes could be sold for more than $30
million, creating money the city needs for affordable housing and other
community projects.
During their
trip to Key West, institute representatives spoke with business owners,
developers and residents. Local entrepreneur Ed Swift, Key West Chamber
of Commerce President Virginia Panico and others presented information
during an all-day seminar Monday.
The group will
draft a report with recommendations for the Rodel Foundation. The
foundation may submit that report to other groups and businesses,
including The Key West Citizen, which gave $1,000 to help fund the
group's visit. The city also gave $1,000.
Bethel also
criticized Rodel for limiting public input. He said the group should
have held at least one public forum so residents could voice their
opinions, adding that the city pitched in $1,000 and Truman Waterfront
is city property.
tohara@keysnews.com
Correction
A story about
the Urban Land Institute in Wednesday's Citizen should have stated that
the nonprofit planning organization recommended Key West sell 2.5 acres
of about 12 developable acres at the Truman Waterfront for upscale
condominiums. Planners estimated the sale would generate more than $30
million to finance affordable housing, recreational and other projects
at the 33-acre waterfront property obtained by the city from the U.S.
Navy.
The Citizen
regrets the errors. |
