Key Largo Residents Leery of Federally Funded Senior Housing Complex

Dear Editor,

A Senior Housing Development of 47 units (700 sq. foot, $ 850.00 a month), behind the Winn Dixie MM 105 B/S, in Key Largo being built by Gorman Co., is under a minor conditional use review, for approval by Townsley Schwab, Senior Planning Director [email protected] .

Gorman Co. is using Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) federal funding, which allows participation from non-residents of Monroe County.

Monroe County Planning Commissioners were told Gorman Co. will only advertise these units in local Monroe papers, which is hardly an effective safeguard it today’s digital world.  Can Gorman Co. get funding that is private not federal funding for this senior housing development?

Locally, many citizens are already expressing deep concerns about relaxed and diminishing control of these units that could otherwise be used for vacation rentals and weekend getaways. Therefore, these controls should contain the criteria of being the primary residence, respecting the peace and tranquility of their fellow seniors and prohibiting sub-letting. Will all potential applicants be interviewed within a sustained oversight process, maintained by Monroe County?

Since this is a minor conditional use approval, the only chance for citizens to express concerns will be before the Development Use Review Committee, which has not yet set a meeting date. Stay tuned.

It is essential we pay attention and participate in the control process to protect and insure our neighborhoods, our community and the development itself will become an asset (as intended) to the Upper Keys.

Kay Thacker

Key Largo