Parking garages in Old Town move forward despite protests
BY PRU SOWERS
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
A plan to build two municipal parking garages in Key West’s historic district is moving ahead despite protests from neighbors.
City Commissioners voted unanimously March 3 to authorize City Manager Jim Scholl to negotiate a contract with Walker Parking Consultant to design a two to three-story garage at 609 Greene St. and another at 616 Simonton St. Walker Parking Consultants was the highest ranked of the three companies that submitted qualifications for the project. The other two companies were Desman Associates and Tim Haahs and Associates, Inc.
Scholl will now negotiate the cost of the design portion of the project with Walker Parking Consultants. The actual construction of the two garages, if city commissioners approve the plans, will be separate from the Walker contract.
“For each location, a two to three-level parking garage is to be constructed in a manner that is economical and honors the historic district in which it lies,” said Devon Steckly, Key West Senior Project Manager, and James Bouquet, city Engineering Director, in a memo to Scholl.
But owners of the nine single family homes that make up the Gardens of Key West, a residential development across the street from the proposed Simonton Street site, are continuing their protests against the project. In a letter to Mayor Craig Cates and city commissioners dated March 2, the homeowners said they had been promised a “park-like” environment behind the new fire station on Simonton Street.
“A ‘park-like’ development is what was presented to HARC, the Tree Commission, and to the community to secure approvals and support,” the letter stated. “This included getting support for the variances needed to construct the firehouse. [Building] a garage at this location will make us feel as victims of a ‘bait and switch’ and broken promises.”
Gardens of Key West homeowners also said they doubted the need for a garage at the Simonton Street location. Parking utilization statistics showed the old parking lot behind the fire station was rarely full and since City Hall and its employees relocated to Habana Plaza, the 64-car lot has been used even less, they said.
But commissioners agreed that the on-going need for more parking in the downtown area trumps neighborhood concerns.
“I’m sick of hearing it about parking. It’s time to do something about it. It’s time we stop pandering and do something,” said Commissioner Mark Rossi.
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Does the Walker company intend to include electric charging stations, cisterns to capture rainwater for irrigation, solar panels to help power lighting and other contemporary and environmentally sound concepts? Or will we get another elephant peering out of the landscape?
Spend like there’s no tomorrow…the real motto of KW city hall.
The City has recently conducted extensive traffic studies, at great time and expense. I had wanted to see designs that limit the demand for cars, not increased dependency. I hope what has now been proposed and contracted with Walker, the traffic recommendations are being taken into full consideration. I also hope that whatever form and design is advanced, it truly does take into account they “be constructed in a manner that is economical and honors the historic district in which it lies.” But as also posted here, I endorse that it “include electric charging stations, cisterns to capture rainwater for irrigation, solar panels to help power lighting and other contemporary and environmentally sound concepts.” Garages can also be design and eco-smart.