| Deep-pocketed
developers are racing to redevelop mobile home communities, the most
affordable housing for many among our workforce, into luxury resorts.
Yes, free enterprise is the American way, but let's not
make our county government an accomplice in forcing out these working
folks. Special deals in the form of 380 agreements**
between local governments and developers smack of such complicity.
This letter-to-editor was in the May 26 Upper Keys Reporter.
(**Note: "380" refers to Chapter 380 of Florida Statutes,
Land and Water Management; "380 Agreements" are special deals
between developers and local and state government, for getting around
existing land-use regulations, and are intended to be used very
rarely and only when they serve the public good.) |
|
Trailers are affordable now
Mr. Tom
Willi, our county administrator, and Ty Symroski in our Growth
Management Department, along with Dixie Spehar, Sonny McCoy, seem to be
under the influence of Boca Developers. Glenn Patton, (Murray Nelson’s
choice) I have no reason to believe, would vote differently, he will
concur with the other two commissioners mentioned above, and the “gang
of three” is back. David Rice, the vote is still out, on how he will
vote and of course George Neugent is still on the side of intelligence
and what is right and fair; concerning giving our real affordable
housing (Mobile Home Parks) away to the deep pocketed developers.
The trade off is transference of development rights to our once working
waterfront marina that the public had access to, Rowell’s Property.
Dear Mr. Willi, Mr. Symorski, and our Board of County Commissioners, a
government entity such as Monroe County should not be in the building
industry. Developers are not in the business of building affordable
housing, they are in the business of making money ($100 to $200 million
dollars on this deal Seahorse Trailer Park and Rowell’s Property.)
Why are you even talking to builders who do not want to build or do not
know how to build affordable houses?
Let us
contact non-profit companies that have stated that they can build a
three bedroom, two-bath home for less than $150,000. They are in the
business of building real affordable housing. Boca Developers has stated
they have no interest in operating or building mobile home parks. You
don’t go to the dentist to get your broken leg fixed. I agree we need
safe housing here in the Keys because of hurricanes and flooding, but
not at the cost of losing the unique flavor of what the Keys always has
been. We need balance with our building and growth, not more density.
One hundred non-affordable homes in Seahorse Trailer Park equals 135
market rate condos and homes in Rowell’s. You are making our real
affordable housing (mobile home parks) a bargaining chip for
unaffordable housing. You are creating a non-existent link between the
so-called 380 agreements, mobile home parks and affordable housing. Why
are you dealing with Boca Developers under the guise of getting
affordable housing for our workforce people? Take this bargaining chip
out of the equation. Mobile home parks can only be used as redeveloped
mobile home parks.
No offsite transfer of building rights should be allowed from any mobile
home park. Take away the incentive for the developers. Mr. Willi we
certainly do not need a partnership between the private sector developer
and the county.
God help us if that happens; it will be the land of the rich and famous,
with our workforce doing a one to four hour drive down US 1 on the JGT
bus.
Kay Thacker
Key Largo |
