Parking garage debate to get full airing at special commission workshop

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Acknowledging that his proposal to build a multi-story parking garage on Greene Street has potentially opened a Pandora’s Box of dissent, Key West City Commissioner Richard Payne has postponed his resolution for a second time, proposing instead that a public workshop be held to allow citizens to voice their opinions.

“In order to have more time for the expected extensive public input, [Payne] will ask the commission for a workshop to allow sufficient time for this to occur prior to a formal resolution discussion and vote at a future commission meeting,” City Manager Jim Scholl said in an email to commissioners. “The Clerk’s office will have proposed workshop dates for discussion at our commission meeting on June 6.”

Payne had originally pushed his original resolution back to the June 6 meeting to give him time to fully research the proposal. But the idea of building two four-story parking garages, one on top of the existing Greene Street surface lot next to the Conch Republic Seafood House and the other next to the new firehouse at the corner of Simonton and Angela streets has stimulated passionate opinions both pro and con. Despite the spirited debate, however, Payne remains in favor of the idea. He pointed out that in the last six years, two private parking lots in the seaport area have been redeveloped into residential housing.

“Right there in that vicinity we’ve lost 250 parking spots since 2011. What have we done to replace those 250 parking spots down there? I think it’s irresponsible for us not to do something,” Payne said.

Parking has increasingly become a sore spot in the downtown area, with tourists sometimes driving around for hours looking for a space and residents unable to park on their own block. A 2011 traffic study commissioned by the city made nine recommendations to help reduce congestion in Old Town, including building the two garages.

However, concerns that the Greene Street garage would displace some businesses in the area, including the non-profit Reef Relief, have been growing stronger. Key West Parking Director John Wilkins put together new estimates for the revenue a 319-space garage on Greene Street would generate, as well as a smaller garage – 101 spaces – that would keep the existing surface parking lot currently rented out by the Conch Republic Seafood House, the offices used by Reef Relief and an area currently used by commercial fishermen to store lobster pots.

The cost to build a new garage on Greene Street ranges between $5 million and $8 million, depending on the size of the structure. Estimated annual revenue for a 319-space garage is just under $2.2 million, while the smaller garage could pull in $579,000 a year.

No matter which side of the garage debate residents fall on, Payne strongly believes that the parking status quo is not acceptable.

“We need to be proactive,” he said. “I just see things are happening here that are not so good.”

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