Funding for the new Frederick Douglass Community Center took nearly a decade to finalize. But construction took just 17 months.
Bahama Village residents on March 6 celebrated the completion of the new center at 101 Olivia St., behind the historic Douglass Gym. The new community center features classrooms for after-school tutoring, a 2,600-square-foot event hall, a commercial kitchen and outdoor courtyard. The new building, constructed by the local contractors at Keystar, also will house the
Black Educators History Museum, which honors the teachers who guided and taught Key West kids through more than a century in segregated schools. The new center also includes music rooms and rehearsal space for the ever-growing Bahama Village Music Program, which provides free music, singing and theater education to the neighborhood’s children.
City Commissioner Aaron Castillo, whose district includes the community center, along with his predecessor Clayton Lopez, celebrated the ribbon-cutting.
“This building is for the future, for our kids, their kids and other people’s kids,” Castillo said.
Lopez said he was proud to have been a part of the project, and recognized the four city managers — JIm Scholl, Greg Veliz, Patti McLaughlin and current manager Brian L. Barroso — who supported the new $8 million community center and worked to get funding in place for it.
Following the March 6 ribbon-cutting, a grand opening will be scheduled once the programs are moved in.
