Truman Waterfront Park update draws commission concern

Truman Waterfront Park update draws commission concern

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Almost 16 years after the idea of building a park at Truman Waterfront was first discussed and despite concerns over where the money will come from to complete the project, construction should begin at the end of November, according to Jim Bouquet, Key West City Engineer.

Bouquet gave a project update to city commissioners June 16 on the $58.5 million, 32-acre park, which includes building a pedestrian walkway stretching – ideally – from Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park to Mallory Square. The big “if” revolves around Admiral’s Cut, a 30-foot break in the existing sidewalk in front of the Westin Resort and owned by the hotel. Past efforts by city officials to negotiate with Ocean Properties, the Westin’s owner, to purchase the cut in order to create an unbroken walkway around the island haven’t borne fruit. But city commissioners voted unanimously June 16 to ask the resort owners to reconsider.

“Access across Admiral’s Cut would serve an important public purpose,” according to the resolution proposed by Commissioner Jimmy Weekley, “providing access to the waterfront history of Key West, as well as a scenic and efficient pedestrian route around the most dense commercial and residential part of town.”

The current plan to build Truman Waterfront Park, according to Bouquet, is to break construction up into multiple phases, completing each phase as funding is received. Currently, the city has about $14 million set aside for the project, with another $2.5 million allocated on Oct. 1, the beginning of the Key West fiscal year. That is enough to begin construction in November on Phase 1A, which will install sidewalks, electrical wiring, draining systems, a play area that includes a water feature, and landscaping.

“In 2018, in a perfect world, we complete the park and we tap out our funding resources,” Bouquet said about Phase 1A.

Phase 1B, which includes a multi-purpose field, community center and horse stables, is projected to be completed in 2020. But that is dependent on finding new sources of grant and other funding, in addition to the city’s $2.5 million contribution each year. The uncertainty around financing has added to Commissioner Mark Rossi’s continuing concerns, as he stated during the June 16 commission meeting.

“Nice presentation but I don’t know where you’re going to get the money for it,” Rossi said to Bouquet. “And I certainly don’t know where you’re going to get the money for the upkeep of it. This is a very grandiose plan here.”

The other commissioners were not as concerned about the overall budget for the project. However, one aspect of the design was worrisome to several commissioners, the proposed amphitheater. Championed by Mayor Craig Cates as a venue for concerts that would draw visitors to Key West, it will cost $500,000 to design the $7 million amphitheater. Bouquet said he is concerned that a large concert venue may not be a good investment for taxpayers.

“I would caution these [large amphitheaters] are not necessarily money-makers for communities. From what we’ve talked about with experts, it may take quite a while to get payback on this facility. We don’t believe it’s the right number for the community,” Bouquet said about the $7 million cost.

But Cates argued that the amphitheater would be part of a larger economic stimulus picture. In addition to revenue from concert ticket prices, the venue could boost the number of tourists visiting Key West.

“We’re not saying that facility will make millions of dollars itself but what it brings to the community in tax dollars it collects in bed tax dollars is the big picture,” Cates said.

Commissioner Tony Yaniz did not agree. And he was worried about the overall $58.5 million cost of the waterfront park, saying that the original plan to build a new marina in the harbor in front of the park would have contributed an ongoing source of revenue towards park costs. Since the marina plan has been scrapped, the park design should be downsized, he said.

“We have to get away from that $58 million Disneyland South design that we had in mind when we had an income generator marina that was going to bring in that money. That’s no longer coming in. We need to take a long, hard look at this park,” Yaniz said.

 

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