Diesel Plant Demo Begins, Mural Preserved

The City of Key West is moving forward with work on the Diesel Plant in Bahama Village. The beloved mural on the building will be temporarily relocated while the two non-historic portions of the building are demolished. The mural will be stored safely until the building is restored.

The demolition is the first step to ensuring that the historic structure is shored up for preservation. This step leads the way to issuing a request for proposals for the eventual rehabilitation of the site.

The plant was originally built in the late 1800s to generate gas used for lighting homes, businesses, and streets. It was decommissioner in the 1960s. In the early 2000s, the community voted to accept the transfer of ownership of the building from Keys Energy to the City of Key West.

The site consists of several buildings, two of which have no historic value. By removing them, the historic part of the building will be accessible for shoring up, if necessary. The City’s Chief Building Official Raj Ramsingh is overseeing the work.

The plant is adjacent to the land where the affordable housing project The Lofts is about to be constructed. Both parcels are next to the Truman Waterfront Park.

City officials are looking for interest from the public to redevelop the plant in a way that ensures the preservation of the historic building while enhancing the neighborhood.

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