‘Mall on Duval’ extended through July

‘Mall on Duval’ extended through July

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

The new “Mall on Duval” picked up steam recently when Key West City Commissioners voted to extend the pilot program another three months.

The pilot began in early February, when the city closed Duval Street to vehicles in the 500, 600 and 700 blocks from 5 pm to midnight Friday and Saturday evenings, turning the city’s main street into a pedestrian mall and allowing businesses in those blocks to sell their wares on the sidewalk and, in the case of restaurants, serve food at tables in the street. The test was set to expire on April 27 but because of the positive feedback from both residents and business owners, the program will now extend to at least July 27. And in a new twist, commissioners gave City Manager Jim Scholl the authority to add street performers and art vendors in phase two of the pilot program.

City officials are also discussing expanding the number of blocks participating in the program. Meetings are currently being held with business owners on Upper Duval to gage interest. And several businesses on lower Duval have said they would like to participate, as well.

There were some concerns voiced, however, about the cost of the program. Added police and public service department personnel costs the city approximately $10,500 each weekend. Resident Tom Milone and former city Commissioner Margaret Romero told commissioners they favored creating a special taxing district for the blocks where the Mall is operational to reimburse the city.

“I don’t understand where the money is coming from to pay for it,” Romero said. “We really need to start thinking about cost and dollars.”

Commissioner Billy Wardlow, who was the lone vote against extending the pilot program because of the uncertainty about who will pay for it, said that one restaurant owner told him he invested $2,300 to purchase glasses and silverware to handle the extra business during the pilot program and saw his profits go up $32,000.

“The city got nothing” from that, Wardlow complained, adding, “I don’t think it’s working out the way we planned. In these meetings [with Mall business owners], find out how we can get some money out of these businesses.”

Several owners of businesses on the three blocks in the pilot program appeared before commissioners urging them to extend the Mall timeline. Bill Lay, owner of La Trattoria Restaurant, 524 Duval St., said the number of customers in his restaurant was up 12 percent on Mall weekends. And Michael Patterson, owner of Kilwins Key West, a chocolate and ice cream store at 505 Duval St., urged commissioners to approve the extension.

“The business owners definitely need it,” he said.

Mayor Teri Johnston, who was instrumental in getting the Mall up and running after it had been discussed for years, said Duval businesses deserve City Hall’s support. She pointed out that Duval Street currently has 19 store vacancies.

“Duval Street used to be our crown jewel,” she said. “It’s time that we supported our businesses and tried to keep them as healthy as possible because it’s tough down there with the rents that people are paying.”

Johnston and several other commissioners said they liked the idea of a special taxing district for the blocks that participate in Mall on Duval. Essentially, businesses on those blocks would pay an added tax to reimburse the city for its costs in setting up and taking down the street barriers, providing extra police officers to patrol the area, renting tables and chairs to create seating areas on each block and picking up the trash afterwards.

“This needs to be self-supporting,” said Commissioner Sam Kaufman.

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