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Last Stand's
first Neighborhood Forum, on the
Future of the Truman Waterfront, was a rousing
success. Well over 100 people braved a drizzly rain to
hear local officials' presentations of plans and proposals for
the Truman Annex waterfront property recently acquired from the
Navy. Citizens may not have have liked all they heard or
heard all they'd like, but the excellent turnout and the
questions raised showed that the public wants to be
engaged as the property is redeveloped. |
Rosi Ware (Events Chair), Nancy Klingener (VP),
Amy Lachat Lynch (Pres) |
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| Doug Bradshaw, representing
the City of Key West, explains the City's master plan for Truman
Waterfront. |
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June Cradick describes the
NOAA environmental center which will be a centerpiece of
the redeveloped Truman Annex waterfront. |
| Norma Jean Sawyer-Atanda,
representing Bahama Conch Community Land Trust, emphasizes
involvement of all the community in plans, including
Bahama Village and Key West African-Americans.
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At the
October 30 forum, the City of Key West's Redevelopment Agency
Manager Doug Bradshaw outlined the master plan for the 33 acres,
assured the public that 60% of the property will be public parks,
and said that plans for business development will involve
private/public partnerships. June Cradick,
representing NOAA and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,
described the Nancy Foster Environmental Center, which will occupy
the building where the Forum was held. The NOAA Center will
host several federal agencies, including the National Park Service
and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Norma Jean Sawyer-Atanda, of the Bahamas Conch
Community Land Trust, gave very compelling reasons why Bahama
Village and Key West's African-American community should |
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important voice in the new Truman Annex property: Bahama
Village is directly adjacent to the property and will be very much
affected by many aspects of the redevelopment; and Key West's
African-Americans helped build and run the Navy base, and continue
to help build and run Key West. Captain Jim
Scholl, commander of Naval Air Station Key West, outlined the Navy's
plan to |
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| Captain Scholl, commander of
NAS Key West, explains the upcoming Key West Harbor dredging
project. |
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Key West city commissioner Tom
Oosterhoudt, discusses Truman Waterfront plans with a citizen. |
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dredge the
Main Ship Channel and part of Key West Harbor, to accommodate larger
Navy vessels. Though not directly related to redevelopment of
Truman Annex, the dredging plans have been of interest to the
public, and what better place to hear about dredging than at a
Neighborhood Forum on the Waterfront? City
Commissioner Tom Oosterhoudt's talk emphasized public participation
in how the newly-acquired city property will be used. He
offered to listen to ideas citizens may want |
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forth. Mayor Jimmy Weekly was in the audience, and he, too,
emphasized that public input is solicited, and promised that public
workshops would be held as plans progress.
A Q&A session followed. Citizens asked
questions about traffic flow in and out of the new property; the
timetable on the harbor dredging; the possibility some of the park
space be considered for a dog-park; the balance of passive-use park
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Forum attendees mingle and chat
following the program. |
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space versus ballfields, and other pertinent
questions.
Last Stand
thanks the panelists who made presentations, and NOAA for hosting
the event. And we thank the members of Last Stand
and the citizens of Key West and the Keys for turning out, and for
showing a keen interest in community issues. |
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