Fourteen candidates are running for five hotly contested seats on the Islamorada village council in November. With the highest number of candidates seen in the village’s history, hopefuls consist of incumbents and newcomers, conchs and longtime residents, and men and women from all walks of life. Leading up to Election Day, the Upper Keys Weekly will ask candidates a question about the main issues facing the village.
Responses are printed exactly as submitted by applicants, with responses limited to 75 words.
The Upper Keys Weekly asked the candidates: What would you suggest for the Island Silver & Spice village property?
SEAT 1
Sue Miller
The current village council voted to purchase this property for $2.75 million nearly a year ago so the village would have control over future use. It is in the heart of our business district, the center of Islamorada. Make it special! We don’t have many opportunities to ensure the best results for critical properties. We need to involve residents and businesses in the decision. Let’s decide together.
Boyfriend Pinder
The Village is always looking for opportunities to develop affordable housing. This is a unique site due to its location in our central neighborhood. I would support a village-led plan to partner with a workforce housing developer. Another option would be to create a transport bug for our Freebee service and overflow parking for our downtown events. There is a lack of parking throughout the village and this land could help solve this problem.
SEAT 2
Marc Gregg
The Village Council should sell the property to a developer who agrees to a mixed-use site plan and village-imposed deed restrictions that limit the use of the property to redevelopment compatible with our community character and require at least 24 affordable housing units as part of the overall redevelopment plan. Proceeds from the sale should then be used to purchase additional land for more affordable housing and to purchase vacant environmentally sensitive land.
Marie Barley
My preference is for a public/private partnership with parking on the ground floor, commercial premises on the second and social housing on the third floor. That said, decisions should not be made in a vacuum. There is no real vision plan for Islamorada, but every stronghold has one. Getting there quickly, with public buy-in, takes honesty and determination. The difficulties we face (lack of housing for workers, traffic, faulty development models) are obvious consequences of the absence of a formal vision.
SEAT 3
Peter Bacheler
The Island Silver and Spice property could be used for affordable housing and in-town parking or other great ideas the public may have. However, 2023 affects any direction we might want to take. If we can’t get allocations for housing (regular or affordable), we can’t go in that direction.
Elisabeth Jolin
The use of this property shall be determined by the community. It should encompass the Needs of the Village as well as the desires citizens. I will promote a process that is transparent, inclusive and emphasizes innovative and creative thinking to create something that will enhance our vibrant community.
SEAT 4
John Timura
Sell it at market price. Give the money back to our residents in the form of a mileage reduction on their property taxes. Explore the possibility of directing some of these funds to subsidize workforce housing in the form of tax relief for landlords who rent to actually working residents, such as first responders and teachers , instead of using them for AirBnBs.
Casey Watkins
The issue of attribution of use of the Island Silver and Spice property is complex due to the manner in which this property was acquired. It would be great for the community to use the property to fulfill a supporting cause. I have no immediate opinion on how I would like to see this property developed. It would be great to be diligent and weigh the options without rushing into a decision that will negatively affect our future. My vision for the future of Islamorada is to protect our environment and our citizens without fueling unnecessary tourism.
Deb Gillis
With the property centrally located, I would like to see affordable/labour housing built and it should contain 17 units. As a city councillor, I would recommend public participation. A few other great ideas to consider would be a technically updated library, a multi-purpose center (perhaps for teens and/or seniors), dedicated boardrooms allowing the current use of the community center back. There are many possibilities. All ideas must contain an element of housing. The multiple-use property only makes sense. It is expensive parking.
Henry Rosenthal
A unique and proven feature would be a village square, with a spectacular fountain, as a focal point and gathering place. (Similar to those at The Villages in Central Florida.)
Angel Borden
Has “promised” when buying “not to be a parking lot”. Partnership with boutique tenants on one level and affordable housing above…. Could provide parking at ground level with stores and living units above. No more village funds spent on this!
SEAT 5
Sharon Mahony
I clearly remember the night the vote to buy Island Silver and Spice passed. I was and still am surprised by the concept of parking? Look around you can see who will get parking and it’s not the people of Islamorada. I have several thoughts on this property for the benefit of the residence. Always a part would be the affordable housing on top. The basement should benefit the community. All thoughts should be put on the table with the community involved in the final decision. The time we looked at the effects on people who call Islamorada their home.
David Webb
One of the most mentioned problems in our business district is the lack of adequate parking. Many retail establishments routinely use rights of way and/or private property for overflow parking. Very few infrastructure improvements would allow this parcel to be used for paid parking. Our Freebee service could provide shuttles to all places. Until a final decision is made for an alternate use, we should use the property now.
Tom Rafanello
The Silver and Spice location sits squarely in Islamorada’s main VAC, or mall. It should therefore be used for new business ventures, not for housing. For example, this site is more suitable for a distillery than for a residential area like Plantation Key Colony. The village should subdivide and exchange these commercial lots for residential lots to develop labour/affordable housing, or sell them and buy the desired residential lots instead. We need smart, strategic growth.
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