College Road Not Appropriate For 24-hour Homeless Shelter
Open Letter to the Board of City Commissioners,
After receiving overwhelming feedback from our residents, we are writing to inform you that the Key West Golf Club Home Owners Association (KWGC HOA) Board has passed a resolution to oppose the placement of a homeless facility at the Easter Seals location on College Road.
For the last two years, the residents of our Community have followed the City’s proposed move of KOTS from the Sheriff’s Office property to the Easter Seals property on College Road. We have met with many of the individuals involved including Mayor Cates, Billy Wardlow, Bob Vitas, Dr. Marbut and Sheriff Ramsay. We have also gathered information from others following this situation such as Fr. Braddock, Margaret Romero, Bart Smith, members of the Mosquito Control Board and FKSPCA board members and management.
KWGC homeowners have concluded that planning for this proposed project has not been conducted in a proper, formal, and transparent way. It appears no safety analysis, no transportation study, no construction budget, no proper operating budget and no well thought out plan for safety of children and residents has been considered. From day one, the goal was to build a 24 hour shelter at Easter Seals. The Planning Board recommendation called for a full public process before approving the placement of a homeless facility on the Easter Seals-Mosquito Control property. No public discussion of the plan (other than before the City Commission) has been held.
For many years, the 390 taxpayers of our community have been displeased with the level of security and protection provided by the City of Key West. We have experienced incidents of homeless squatting under and on porches of vacated homes, using our public bathrooms and facilities and loitering on our private streets and property. Many residents of our community cannot enjoy College Road as a biking, jogging and walking path anymore. The homeless population has become younger and much more aggressive. Reported incidents of criminal behavior on College Road are at an unacceptable level and our residents are afraid to use the streets. Some have found themselves in potentially unsafe situations when confronting homeless persons.
College Road will become a far more dangerous place if the proposed shelter is constructed at the Easter Seals location. The shelter has no place on a street where elementary school children coexist. Gerald Adams students deserve a school in an area free from the risk of chemically addicted individuals and registered sex offenders.
With the addition of the bus transfer station, College Road will have even more vehicular traffic. The homeless loiter and walk College Road in a state of inebriation, adding to the risk of vehicular-pedestrian accidents.
The creation of the 24 hour shelter will force Mosquito Control from their current location. Many of the long- time residents of Key West remember how unpleasant it could be outside before Mosquito Control moved to College Road and could provide the excellent service we have come to expect. The cost of moving the Mosquito Control facility has been estimated at up to $2.5 million for facilities plus moving costs.
The Botanical Garden is a destination for tourists, families and schoolchildren and has been designated as a “trailhead” for the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. The trailhead will include facilities for parking, boating and walking trails. Safety for this family friendly tourist destination is critical.
Dr. Marbut’s proposed facility directly conflicts with the FKSPCA’s ability to build their new shelter. Representatives from the Animal Shelter’s board stated they require additional space next to their building to build a proper facility. The proposed homeless shelter will prevent them from doing so. The cost of a new lease and moving to a new location will be substantial.
The Key West Golf Club HOA strongly agrees with many others that a 24 hour shelter on College Road will only encourage more homeless individuals to come to Key West. We have researched the impact Marbut’s shelters have had in the communities of San Antonio and St. Petersburg. In both areas, the local police forces have experienced a 40 to 47% increase in calls and the need to respond to the communities where these shelters exist. The homeless population may have decreased in these downtown areas, but it has increased in the neighboring towns such as Sarasota and in other areas. We already know a homeless facility on College Road does not reduce the number of homeless in “Key West proper” as Mayor Cates characterizes the main island as consisting of Old Town and New Town. Locating the facility on Rockland Key is much more likely to limit the number of homeless congregating downtown.
We have also found that sources of funding proposed by Dr. Marbut for the operating budget have not been agreed to by the sources. First, the budget is heavily contingent on private donations of food with a value of $400,000. In fact, faith based charities have not committed to provide the meals needed at the shelter. Second, the Sheriff’s Office has not committed to the $400,000 in security services Marbut suggested. His report was issued without any coordination on this commitment with the Sheriff’s Office. The only assured funding comes from the $450,000 in funds the City has been providing to SHAL to run KOTS and the Mobile Van. It appears that the taxpayers will likely bear the burden of a large portion of the uncommitted funding.
In a City Commission meeting, Commissioner Wardlow recommended the Easter Seals location as a suitable spot for an assisted living facility and Commissioner Yaniz now agrees. Since the Truman Waterfront was ruled out as a possibility, the Easter Seals property with its proximity to hospital, rehabilitation center, nursing home and public transportation is the logical location for an assisted living facility.
We urge you to consider the issues we have raised. The current residents on College Road, grade school, hospital, convalescent care facility, nursing home, botanical garden, college and residences, need to be considered in the future utilization of this property. A homeless facility is not an acceptable neighbor for these organizations. Funding for the operation of the facility and for modification of the Easter Seals and the Mosquito Control buildings has not been identified. This location is highly desirable for an assisted living facility.
This inadequately planned, ill-conceived proposal will be a continuing problem for the City, its residents and the Sheriff’s Office if it is carried out. Please do not make the mistake of approving this plan. Saddling the City with this facility will be regretted by all organizations on College Road and the taxpayers of this City. This proposed shelter will be an ongoing problem for years to come.
The ultimate decision on the placement of a homeless facility of any type, how it is implemented, the operating costs, its effectiveness in reducing homeless population and the impact upon the surrounding community is of the utmost importance. A decision based upon how quickly and cheaply it can be accomplished, is a reckless strategy that will have a negative impact upon the future of our City. We implore you to listen to the input of the citizens of this City, and support what is the best for our future.
Respectfully,
The Board of Directors of the Key West Golf Club Homeowners Association
Dave Hubbert – President
Robin Mitchell – Vice President
Steve Black – Treasurer
Mark Gambuzza – Secretary
Joe Marubbio – Director