A.H. of Monroe County, Inc. Almost Doubles the Number of Homes for Sale on the 3.2 Acres to Keep More Families in Key West 

January 3, 2022 – After hearing the needs of community members at multiple public meetings, A.H. of Monroe County, Inc. (AH) has increased their plans to build home ownership units from 16 to 28 for the Lofts at Bahama Village – the affordable housing to be built on the 3.2 acres across from Truman Waterfront.

“Our first step was to go back to the community and ask what they liked and what they wanted to change,” explains AH Executive Director Scott Pridgen. “We wrote the proposal based on the knowledge that it’s much harder to find funds to build homes for sale than for rentals, but we also understand that many of our families want something they can truly call their own. Our goal is to give the community what they need as best as we can.”

The remaining approximate 75 units of the project will be dedicated to rentals.

The development and management contract was awarded to Vestcor Companies and AH in December 2021 after a competitive bid process. If the referendum on January 18, 2022 passes, AH can begin applying for tax credit funding in May 2022. The project could be “move-in ready” by early 2024.

The land, given to the City by the Navy almost two decades ago, can only be used for affordable housing.

While the community waits for the election, AH continues to work with residents to gain a better understanding of what they envision for the property, including a live FACEBOOK chat on Thursday, January 6th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and accessible at https://www.facebook.com/housingforallkw.

Th one-hour chat will include real-time questions and answers about the architectural design, the size of the units, the possibility of town homes, and collaboration with other non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

Home ownership is paramount to many residents, though others are seeking rentals. Either way, the process will be a community partnership, according to Pridgen.

“Since December of 2020, a group of community members has been meeting with AH Monroe about home ownership,” explains 5th generation community member of Bahama Village Terrance Lopez. “Mr. Pridgen has listened to us, and we appreciate that. Let’s vote ‘yes’ on the referendum on January 18th so home ownership and affordable housing can become a reality for generations to come.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Key West lost almost 2,000 people in the workforce between May 2020 and March 2021. The city is moving forward in every way possible to make it easier for working families to stay  in Key West.

“This is a big step in the right direction,” says City Manager Patti McLauchlin. “People need to understand that AH has a proven track record in workforce housing. They have done a fantastic job with Marty’s Place and Poinciana Royale. They care about this community; they are rooted here. They are in it for the right reasons.”

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