Life and Island Times – June 7 2016
Another Erection in Key West
Peary Court at night
From the mid-1960s through 1993, the large undeveloped US Navy property at White Street and Palm Avenue was used as a park by Key Westers. Marlow had salvaged lumber from torn down housing units in 1974 to rebuild his dock on Sigsbee Island.
So when the Navy announced that the property, known as Peary Court, was to be developed for military housing, many locals protested. They argued that the Navy really didn’t need any more housing in Key West (the Cold War had ended two years prior and the Defense Department was in the middle of its Peace Dividend downsizing) and, in fact, was in the process of reducing its presence in here.
It was a hard argument to win. The Navy owned the property and that was that, and construction began in 1993. Former City Commissioner Harry Powell apparently felt stronger about the issue than other protesters. On January 13, 1994, Powell showed up at the construction site and barricaded himself inside of a construction trailer with explosives strapped around his chest. He said he would give himself up if he received assurances that the decision to develop Peary Court would be reviewed by top brass in Washington. Finally, after an all-day standoff, somebody promised Harry that the already-underway development would be reviewed. He was arrested, tried and spent nearly a year in prison.
Now 22 years later after those long ago el cheapo condos were built are no longer needed in the second Defense Department drawdown in 27 years, a question poses itself, “Was Harry Powell right?”
The enemy this time is a secret land development corporation who will not disclose its owners. This entity has acquired the condos and land from the Navy and wants to build high-density “work force” housing. Islanders have seen this type of deal at least five times before during the past 35 years with “affordable housing” built on excessed federal government properties on the island. Five years after the affordable housing was initially built and sold, it floated up in value and lower middle class people were shut out of the housing market.
The City Commission is also part of the enemy camp this time. They put on the last ballot a measure for the city to acquire the land and condos from the developers for $33 million or $350,000 per unit. To those of us who watched these units be built, they were likely in need of tens of millions of dollars in repairs. The developer would have made a bit over $15 million in the flip. The measure was crushed at the polls by a 3 to 2 margin.
Undeterred, the Commission now wants to pony up City tax dollars to help the developer build 157 (a 60% increase in density) work force condos for absolutely nothing in return. One lone Commission member is fighting a rear guard battle to change or stop the project. The smart money is on the developers.
Proposed Site Plan For Peary Court Redevelopment
So as Island Alex puts it so well, it’s just Another erection in Key West. So check six, my fellow taxpayers.
Island days ain’t what they used to be
Now it’s all expensive property
Build the condos higher and higher
Charge a fortune and find a buyer
Don’t believe a word they’re saying
I know the kinda games they’re playing
Lotsa concrete, it’s a cinch
They want to build every square inch
A good place to invest
They just broke ground in Old Town
A good place to invest
Another erection in Key West
Low cost housing has a certain ring
But these days there no such thin
They want to take out all the trees
All the nuisance mahoganies
Its bubba this, bubba that
Wink an eye and you’re up to bat
Uphill battles, hard to win
When everyone’s grand fathered in
A good place to invest
They just broke ground in Old Town
A good place to invest
Another erection in Key West
Why can’t we find some new solutions
To the kickbacks and contributions
Why can’t we find some new solutions
To the kickbacks and contributions
Why can’t we find some new solutions
To the kickbacks and contributions
Money moves in funny directions
Now we got all these erections
City Commission seems delighted
Erecting something gets them excited
They’ll make a deal behind your back
As long as they got their name on plaque
A good place to invest
They just broke ground in Old Town
A good place to invest
Another erection in Key West
A good place to invest
They just broke ground in Old Town
A good place to invest
Another erection in Key West
Island Alex (buy his CD at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZitjEriwoQ)
Copyright © 2016 From My Isle Seat/Island Alex