City officials look into limiting chain stores
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA
Citizen Staff Writer
KEY WEST — The
Southernmost City sells itself as a charming old town with a rich
history, where visitors can get a unique dining and shopping experience.
But is that experience
being treaded upon? An increase in chain fast-food restaurants and
retail stores has Duval Street looking more like a shopping mall, with
shops like Coach, Banana Republic for shopping and Burger King, Denny's
and Wendy's for the food court.
In the past decade,
Starbucks, Banana Republic, Express, Eckerds, Hard Rock Cafe, Wendy's,
Denny's and other corporate-run businesses have replaced locally owned
shops and eateries on Duval Street.
"We are advertising and
promoting the Keys and Key West as a laid-back destination with a
fabulous unique environment," said Peter Ilchuk, president of the
Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West. "We have to
deliver what we are advertising. Today's traveler is looking for that
unique food experience or destination that they can't find somewhere
else."
City planners have begun
researching other retail ordinances in cities with historic downtown
districts. The city has also asked local architect Sullins Stuart to
conduct a survey on the growth of chain stores in Key West during the
past several years, said City Planner Ty Symroski.
"This is an important
ordinance and we need to make sure they [city commissioners] have good
background analysis," Symroski said. "I don't see this as an
anti-formula business ordinance. I see this as an economic development
strategy that would maintain the unique shopping experience for
visitors."
The initial proposal was
for a formula retail ban on upper Duval Street and in the Key West
Bight. However, Mayor Jimmy Weekley asked that the area be expanded to
nearly all of Old Town.
"We have to figure out if
it is constitutional or discriminatory," City Attorney Bob Tischenkel
said. "It may be reasonable if it is in two districts, but if you expand
it becomes more difficult. We have to figure out where to properly draw
the line."
Chain stores already
downtown would be allowed to stay, according to a proposed plan. It has
yet to be determined that if the leases come up if they would be allowed
to renew. An initial proposal prohibited chains of more than three
stores from setting up shop downtown, unless it was a Keys-based
business.
However, as property
values increase Ilchuk and others questioned whether small business
owners could afford to have businesses in Old Town. Downtown rents,
especially along Duval Street, can go for more than $15,000 a month.
Some have also questioned
whether the ordinance goes far enough, including limits on T-shirt
shops.
A citizen and business
owner-based city committee also plans to tackle the chain store issue
and make a recommendation to the City Commission as part of the a
resident/visitor plan the group has been commissioned to create. The
group is looking at all aspects of tourism and its impact on the
community.
Symroski hopes to have an
ordinance before the City Commission by the end of September, he said.
tohara@keysnews.com |
