Participants Pleased with School Board Walk Through

All parties are optimistic following a meeting hosted by the Monroe County School Board to explore the future use of the approximately six acres at Trumbo Point. As members of the School Board, the City Commission, and representatives of the surrounding properties gathered, Superintendent Theresa Axford noted that the goal of this early-stage get-together was to share visions, explore collaborations, and to work in tandem to redevelop this part of the city.

“It was very invigorating being with the whole group to share visions about the community needs that the Trumbo property site can address,” said Superintendent Axford. “I hope this was the beginning of many fruitful and productive meetings with these leadership teams. The Mayor and I first spoke in February about the possibility of this meeting and I am glad that our vision was realized.  I am very optimistic about the future partnerships that will emerge working towards the best use of our Trumbo property.”

“Great cities happen because of great partnerships,” Key West Mayor Teri Johnston said at the beginning of the meeting. “Thank you for the opportunity to share our vision.  We’re looking forward to supporting this project.”

The school district’s property is adjacent to one of the Housing Authority’s public housing properties, which is currently undergoing a name change. The former Porter Place sits on more than eight acres and contains 18 buildings of affordable public housing.  On the other side of the school district’s property, a one-acre parcel will be developed into 31 housing units for first responders. This development is the result of a partnership between the City and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The Steam Plant condominiums, the Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard will also have an interest in how the property is developed. Currently the school district houses its administrative office on the site.  All parties are planning for extensive community engagement on the project.

City Planning Director Katie Halloran noted that the City has two big take-aways from the meeting. The first to set aside Building Permits Allocation System – or BPAS units to support the school district’s vision. Secondly, the district’s parcel needs to be re-zoned.

School Board President John Dick noted that he was on the board back when the district handed over the keys of the old Glynn Archer School, which the City renovated into City Hall.

“We weren’t using it and it worked out,” said Dick. “It was a good collaboration.”

He noted that the School Board has already shown its interest in creating affordable housing on the Trumbo site. “We moved our buses out and bought land on Stock Island,” to service them,” he said.

“The overarching goal is to create a healthy balance of desirable quality of life, economy, and environment,” said Mayor Johnston. “The City’s Strategic Plan gives us the vision of our people, and the number one goal is dignified quality housing. We are all struggling with that on an island with some of most valuable land in the country.”

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