Streets for People / Progress On Seven Projects Equals Big Wins for Our Downtown, Even If It Is On Key West Time

Earlier this week the City broke ground on construction to restore Clinton Square Park at Front and Whitehead Streets in front of the historic Custom House. While the project was to have broken ground in December of 2022, what’s 18 months or so among friends. In fact, during the ceremony, Commissioner Jimmy Weekley noted this has been in the works since his election in 1985. We’re all on Key West or island time after all, and the good news is we’re getting a new and improved pocket park. This event reminds us, that even taking Key West time into account, outgoing Mayor Teri Johnston, the City Commission and Planning Director Katie Halloran have managed to put together a series of big construction and planning wins for our downtown recently.

In addition to Clinton Square Park, there were groundbreakings on 126-units of workforce housing at The Lofts of Bahama Village and the brand new Frederick Douglass Community Center in September. The long-discussed Duval Street Revitalization & Resiliency planning effort finally got off the ground and already has had  two well-attended public meetings in January and April of this year. After more than two years of public process there’s a final draft of the Mallory Square Master Plan. And staff is currently writing an RFP to solicit development of the Historic Diesel Plant. That’s six wins in short order.

Let’s not forget recent bike/ped improvements on United and South Streets and pedestrian upgrades near the Seaport too. Win. Win. But wait, there’s more. Following up on the success of the Duval Street Pocket Park in 2019, where a hybrid pedestrian plaza replaced car parking directly on the beach, the City just announced it is holding a public meeting on June 13 to discuss making the Southernmost Point buoy area into a plaza that’s better for pedestrians and moving vehicles while addressing safety and standing water issues. Another potential win in the making.

All of these construction projects and planning efforts, taken together are very positive momentum for our downtown as they will add more life, locals, prosperity and resiliency to our main street corridor and surrounding historic district. We credit the wins to current City leaders for using a tenacious strategic plan process to help push forward projects that for years, and in some cases decades, languished in the never never land of island time. So, kudos to the people at City Hall. Following up on our last story about these projects at the end of 2022, let’s look at brief updates on seven of these wins below…

Win #1 – Mallory Square

The most far along of the planning efforts is the “Celebration at Mallory Square Master Plan” as the Planning Department hired an architectural design firm in 2021 to develop a long-range master plan for redeveloping Mallory Square and the Sunset Celebration. After tons of community meetings and input a Vision Plan was developed. Our favorite summaries of this part of the effort are Linda Grist Cunningham’s “Key West’s Mallory Square: What Happens When History, Nostalgia and Cash Collide?” September 24, 2002, and “Mallory Square: Let’s Mix and Match the Design Options” December 27, 2022.

And then another round of community meetings were held and a survey of over 2,000 residents was done to refine the plan from two major concepts. One was embraced by two thirds of the survey participants in 2023. And viola’ there is now a draft Master Plan document that includes the square and surrounding area. The Planning Department is conducting analyses on Mallory Square revenue parking and mobility opportunities together with subcontractors. The final draft is being reviewed by HARC, the Planning Board and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board before being presented to the City Commission.  (City project site here.)

Win #2 – The Lofts of Bahama Village

The Lofts of Bahama Village also known as the 3.2 project (because it sits on 3.2 acres of formerly U.S. Government owned land), got its master’s degree and doctorate in Key West time as the project has been talked about since the 1980s. But after many fits and starts (this seems to be a theme for these plans) there finally was a groundbreaking ceremony on September 14 of last year. Construction is already moving along nicely. When completed, the Lofts, managed by A.H. Monroe, will bring 126 units of affordable workforce rentals and condos to downtown. More residents living downtown is a good win because it helps locals save money by biking, walking and using transit and we’ve written about that here, here and here. (City project site here.)

Win #3 – Frederick Douglass Community Center

Across the street from the Loft’s is yet another project that’s been on island time as the City and various groups have been batting around ideas for renovating or rebuilding this long-time Bahama Village neighborhood gym for a very, very long time. But on September 8, 2023, ground was broken on a brand new Frederick Douglass Community Center that will incorporate the gym, after-school tutoring program, Bahama Village Music Program and the District 6 City Commissioner’s office and add services for an early childhood education program, a fitness center, meeting spaces and a resource center. Construction is moving along briskly and should be complete in mid-2025. (City Project Site here under the Buildings heading and here’s a time lapse video of the construction through this March here.)

Win #4 – Duval Street Resiliency & Revitalization

We’ve been writing about this since at least 2019 when the Planning Department first released an RFQ to find a planning firm to renovate and revitalize Duval Street, which hadn’t had a major investment in its infrastructure in 40+ years. Key West time, being its own force of nature, there were lots of fits and starts to this project until it finally and officially got started in earnest with a massively attended public kick-off meeting on January 31.

The focus of the project, now called Duval4All or the Duval Street Revitalization and Resiliency Project, is to protect and make the Duval Street infrastructure and its historic buildings resilient in the face of climate change, rising sea levels and weather events. And then to piggyback on that investment with any changes the community wants in revitalization projects like benches, trees, water fountains, art, signage, and wider sidewalks and other pedestrian enhancements.

At an April 4 Workshop of business owners and local residents a ton of data was released to provide context for the community about making future decisions and input was gathered on preserving buildings; green infrastructure; and streetscape, functional issues, people and traffic.

Up next is to break the work down by “character district” as each has unique infrastructure needs. The four districts are Front to Eaton, Eaton to Olivia, Olivia to Catherine and Catherine to South. The City and its contractor will be reaching out soon to hold meetings with representatives in each district. (City project site here.)

Win #5 – Clinton Square Park

In August of 2022 the City Commission was presented (video and PowerPoint slides) with the history of and plans to rehabilitate the long neglected square and streets around it. The obelisk monument at its center was erected in 1866 by the Navy to honor those fallen in the Civil War. A small iron fence surrounding the large obelisk was installed by R. Vining Harris to memorialize the loss of Confederate soldiers during the war. During the Civil War, Key West remained a Union outpost, despite the fact that the rest of Florida seceded and joined the Confederacy. Plans include restoration of these two existing monuments, enhanced access, new poinciana trees for shade, lighting and inviting spots to rest. Construction will begin shortly. (City project site here under the Community Projects heading.)

Win #6 – Historic Diesel Plant

The former Keys Energy Diesel Plant, a complex of five decaying building in Bahama Village near the entrance to the Truman Waterfront Park and adjacent to The Lofts was built in the 1880’s. Yes, hard as it is to believe, wink, this project has gone through ups and downs and plenty of Key West time. It sat abandoned for decades and then the Key West Art and Historical Society won a bid to redevelop it in 2019 to use as a multi-use cultural facility only to relent and say uncle when COVID hit as they were just trying to keep their own properties afloat. In 2021 the Rams Head Group offered to take it off the City’s hands in exchange for putting in a microbrewery, multi-use flex space, walking museum, outdoor courtyard & playground, culinary & brewing programs and a coffee shop. Their presentation was so well received a couple commissioners were ready to accept it on the spot. Alas, the City decided to instead put out an RFP to solicit developers and, in the meantime, stabilized the buildings. Right now, the City’s Planning Department is writing the RFP which is expected to be released in December 2024. (City project site here under the Buildings heading.)

Potential Win #7 – Southernmost Point Plaza

The Southernmost Point Plaza Project Community Meeting scheduled for 5:30 pm at City Hall on June 13 could be the start of another win for our downtown. The project comes about as the City’s Engineering Department has received a $1 million dollar grant from the TDC to improve and enhance the area around the Southernmost Point buoy as the buoy, benches, sidewalks and drainage facilities were damaged during Hurricane Ian. The grant would help fix these and address traffic difficulties, standing water and visitor overflow into the street. Here’s how the City’s website describes the intent of the project:

“The project would incorporate a one-way limited traffic flow pattern and incorporate resilience and sustainability strategies that address climate considerations, sea-level rise, increased shade, and increased bio-habitats while continuing to accommodate the needs of adjacent residential and commercial properties. The plaza would provide more space for pedestrians and improve the experience for the large crowds that visit daily.  The improvements at the Southernmost Point are prepared for a complete street concept that would support three of the Key West Forward Strategic Plan priorities: Priority 2: Sea Level Rise; Priority 3: Roads and Sidewalks; Priority 6: Traffic and Pedestrian Friendliness.”

Neighboring businesses and residents are already receiving the project very positively. We all should. The entire project could cost as much as $4 million dollars and the City anticipates going back to the TDC for more financial help. (City project site here under the Roads & Sidewalks heading.)

These 7 Projects Wins Are Good for Downtown and Thus Key West

In our update on these projects in 2022, the Mayor said:

“We are enhancing our public spaces for our residents and guests alike so that we can continue to be a quality community and a world class destination.”

Indeed. And Paul J. Menta owner of the Key West First Legal Rum Distillery and leader of the Shop Mom & Pop Key West group said:

“Keeping locals living locally in Key West (at the Lofts) has many advantages such as it keeps the local economy going as they buy at Mom-and-Pop type places, they have options to bike or bus to work, and they add to the ambiance of Key West by having locals walking around with tourists. Sounds funny, but when you travel you want to shop and eat where the locals are!”

Exactly. The convergence of these projects all coming together now will have a multiplier effect. More locals. More great public places for locals and visitors to gather. A more resilient, better functioning and nicer to look at main street. All point toward a better future for our little historic downtown and that’s good for Key West and the Florida Keys. Let’s not let these efforts succumb to the naysayers, whatabouters, NIMBYS and leave-it-aloners, nor the ravages of Key West or island time. Let’s instead support leaders that support these projects and help secure a better future for Key West.

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Chris Hamilton is founder of the local advocacy group Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown. Subscribe to the blog. Follow on Facebook and Twitter. A native of the District of Columbia, where for a couple decades+ he led nationally renowned efforts promoting transit, bike, walk and smart growth for Arlington County, VA’s DOT. Chris has lived in Key West since 2015. He lives car-free downtown and works and volunteers for a few non-profits. You can find three years’ worth of KONK Life Streets for People column articles here and here.

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