The following was a guest column in Blue Paper on October 17th.
As we all grow older, housing in our senior years is a consideration or worry for all of us. With retirement savings and funds having lost up to 40 percent of their value in the past year, and as we look ahead to living on fixed incomes, the vast majority of us need to be concerned about how we will live and how we will pay for housing in our senior years.
A week ago last Tuesday, I happened to be at the City Commission meeting when the Commissioners, as the Naval Properties Local Redevelopment Authority, voted on “Implementing referendum approval of a 99 year lease of Truman Waterfront Property for an Assisted Living and Independent Living Facility for Senior Citizens”. Sounds good doesn’t it? Who would not be for senior housing?
One by one’ board members from the Florida Keys Assisted Care Coalition came up and sang the praises of this project, and told the Commissioners about the need for this type of housing.
Did you vote for the referendum? Did you attend any of the forums held to inform the public about the project? Did you receive and read any literature on the project? With people busy working two and three jobs, raising kids and doing all the day-to-day activities life and families require, I don’t blame you if you didn’t have time to investigate the project.
After all, the wording of the referendum didn‘t seem to indicate any red flags, in fact it seemed like a good idea: “To encourage housing for senior citizens, shall the naval Properties Local Redevelopment Authority of the City of Key West be authorized to lease real property of approximately four acres at the Truman Waterfront, to a qualified operator or management company that has not yet been selected for a period of 99 years for exclusive use as a mixed-income senior citizens assisted living and independent living facility?”
You voted either YES or NO. Unfortunately the referendum did not mention the lease was for $1 a year! It should also be noted that Coalition literature said ”Keys Energy Services will make available an adjoining property consisting of 1 2/3 acres” for a total of 5.3 acres.
Assisted Care Coalition literature states “None of the directors has a financial interest in the project; nor will any director benefit in any way in its construction or operation. Each director has voted to affirm a resolution citing this criterion.” I would expect this non-involvement clause would include families and business partners. Let’s keep a close eye on this one. Our Commissioners also need to keep watch of this project and who‘s involved.
We were told by Ed Swift, John Dolan-Heitlinger, and other members of the Florida Keys Assisted Care Coalition Board how the referendum was passed overwhelmingly by a two-thirds vote — the people of Key West were for this project they said!
Well, here’s what you may not have known! There will be 40 assisted care units. Of these 10 would be studios (400 s.f.) with monthly fees of $1000, and prices on units go up to $4800 monthly for 10 one bedroom plus units (600 s.f.). Of these 40 units, half (20) would be subsidized.
Then’ there are 95 independent living units starting at $1700 (600 s.f.) and go up to $2995 for “1 bedroom with premium views” (700 s.f). Only 8 of the 95 independent living units will be subsidized. So, of 135 proposed units, only 28 would be subsidized.
If you think that’s a lot of money just wait. Literature I received from the Coalition stated “How much will the units cost? The community is being planned as a mixed income community with units running at or about $200,000 to $1.5 million. And rental units from $1,000 to $4900 monthly.”
Literature went on to answer the question: “Will residents be able to own their own apartments? No. The units cannot be owned fee-simple. But for residents who elect to pay an upfront entrance fee, they will be guaranteed use of their unit for as long they are physically and mentally capable. Rentals will be governed by leases of appropriate duration. The land will always be owned by the City of Key West as well as Keys Energy Services. The buildings will be owned by the provider.”
We do have some senior housing in Key West, but there is a 1-2 year wait to get in. Rent is 30 percent of your income, and over a certain income, your rent tops out at somewhere between $550- $600 per month. Now that’s affordable.
Last week the City Commissioners voted 5 to 2 in support of leasing this extremely valuable piece of land to the Florida Keys Assisted Care Coalition for 99 years for $1 a year. Only Commissioners Johnston and Gibson voted against what sounds like another sweetheart of a deal like the Yacht Club.
One speaker at the Commission meeting suggested that the only portion of land that should be rented for $1 a year would be land that is used for lower or moderate income seniors, and not used to subsidize expensive waterfront living for the wealthy. One dollar a year. Where in Key West can you go to find a land deal like that?
I probably attend more Commission meetings than the average person and I did not know the Naval Properties Local Redevelopment Authority only considered and voted one time on issues of such importance. Usually for City Commission business there is a second reading following two weeks after the first reading. I know at least one Commissioner believed there would be a second meeting or reading in which to vote on this land lease, I wonder how many other Commissioners thought the same way?
So, how do you feel about this affordable housing project now? Will you be able to afford to live here? If you voted today would you vote for or against the referendum? In an informal poll of about 50 seniors following the City Commission vote, less than 10 percent of the seniors I questioned indicated they voted FOR the referendum.
When asked if they had attended any of the presentations by the Florida Keys Assisted Care Coalition or understood the costs mentioned in this commentary, 15 percent responded with a YES. When asked if they could afford to live in this project 100 percent said THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS DEVELOPMENT.
Lastly, when asked, with this information, do you support the dollar a year lease for this project? 98 percent responded NO THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THIS LEASE.
There is a need for AFFORDABLE housing for seniors. BUT THIS IS NOT IT. Let the Mayor and the Commissioners know how you feel about the way they voted on this important issue.
The Mayor and Commissioners can emailed or called at:
mayor@keywestcity.com 809-3844
bverge@keywestcity.com 809-3844
mrossi@keywestcity.com 296-7050
dkolhage@keywestcity.com 296-4066
bfgibson@keywestcity.com 809-3841
Johnston@keywestcity.com 809-3841
clopez@keywestcity.com 294-8729.
Christine Russell is a longtime resident of Key West. She calls herself a community and political activist.
