Fourteen candidates enter for five hotly-contested Islamorada Village Council seats this November. With the most candidates seen in the village’s history, the hopefuls consist of incumbents and newcomers, Conchs and longtime residents and men and women of all backgrounds. Now through Election Day, the Upper Keys Weekly will ask the candidates a question on key issues facing the village.
Answers are printed exactly as submitted by candidates, with responses limited to 75 words.
The Upper Keys Weekly asked the candidates: What would you propose for the village-owned Island Silver & Spice property?
SEAT 1
Sue Miller
The current village council voted to buy this property for $2.75 million almost a year ago so that the Village would have control of the future use. It is in the heart of our business district, the center of Islamorada. Make it special! We don’t get many opportunities at ensuring the best outcomes for critical properties. We need to involve the residents and businesses in the decision. Let’s decide together.
Buddy Pinder
The Village is always looking for opportunities to develop affordable housing. This is a unique site due to its location in our central district. I would support a Village-guided plan to partner with a developer for work-force housing. Another option would be to create a transportation 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 address that issue.
SEAT 2
Mark Gregg
The Village Council should sell the property to a developer who agrees to a mixed-use site plan and deed restrictions imposed by the Village which limit 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. The sale proceeds should then be used to purchase additional land for more affordable housing and to purchase vacant environmentally sensitive lands.
Mary Barley
My preference is a public/private partnership with parking at ground level, commercial on second and workforce housing on third floor. That said, determinations shouldn’t be made in a vacuum. Missing is an actual Visioning Plan for Islamorada, yet every strong town has one. Getting there quickly, with buy in from the public, takes honesty and determination. Difficulties we face (lack of worker housing, traffic, flawed development patterns) are obvious consequences of having no formal vision.
SEAT 3
Pete Bacheler
Island Silver and Spice property could be used for affordable housing and city parking or other good ideas that the public may have. However, 2023 affects any direction that we may want to take. If we can’t get allocations for housing units (regular or affordable) we won’t be able to go in that direction.
Elizabeth Jolin
The use of this property will have to be determined by the community. It should encompass the needs of the Village as well as the desires of the citizens. I will promote a process that is transparent, inclusive, and one that insists on innovative and creative thinking to create something to enhance our vibrant community.
SEAT 4
John Timura
Sell it at market value. Give the money back to our residents in the form of a millage cut on their property taxes. Explore the possibility of earmarking some of these funds to subsidize workforce housing in the form of a tax break to property owners who rent to actual working residents such as first responders and teachers as opposed to using them for AirBnBs.
Casey Watkins
The issue of allocating the use of the Island Silver and Spice property is complex because of how this property was attained. It would be great for the community to utilize the property to fulfill a supportive cause. Immediately, I do not have an opinion on how I would care to see this property developed. It would be great to apply diligence 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 citizens without feeding into unnecessary tourism.
Deb Gillis
With the property centrally located, I would like to see affordable/workforce housing built and it should hold 17 units. As councilperson, I would recommend public input. A couple of other good ideas to consider would be technically updated library, multi-purpose center (maybe teen and/or senior), dedicated council chambers allowing current community center use again. There are many possibilities. All ideas should contain a housing element. Multiple use property only makes sense. It’s an expensive parking lot.
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 in The Villages in central Florida.)
Angel Borden
A “promised” when purchased “not to be a parking lot”. Partnership with boutique tenants on one level and affordable housing above…. Could provide ground level parking with shops and living units above. No more village funds expended on it!
SEAT 5
Sharon Mahoney
I clearly remember the night the vote to purchase Island Silver and Spice passed. I was and still am surprised by the concept of a parking lot? Look around that area you can see who will benefit from a parking lot and it’s not the residents of Islamorada. I have several thoughts on this property benefiting the residence. Always a part would be affordable housing on the top. The downstairs should benefit the community. All thoughts should be put on the table with the community involved in the final decision. Time we looked at the effects on people that 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 right-of-way’s and/or private property for overflow parking. Very little infrastructure improvement would enable that parcel to be used for paid parking. Our Freebee service could provide shuttle rides to all locations. Until a final decision is made for an alternative use, we should be utilizing the property now.
Tom Rafanello
The Silver and Spice location sits squarely in Islamorada’s primary VAC, or commercial hub. It should therefore be used for new business ventures, not housing. For example, this site is better suited for a distillery than a residential area like Plantation Key Colony. The Village should subdivide and swap these commercial parcels for residential lots to develop workforce/affordable housing, or sell it and purchase desired residential lots instead. We need smart, strategic growth.
