During its first meeting of the new decade, the Key West Chamber of Commerce board of directors unanimously endorsed the proposed Wrecker’s Cay workforce housing project on Stock Island and encouraged commissioners in Key West and Monroe County to approve the project as proposed, with emphasis on median- and moderate-income categories.
“This housing complex addresses a need that is not being met by the new low-income housing that’s coming online,” says Mike Morawski, immediate past president of the chamber and chair of the organization’s workforce housing committee. “We have teachers and nurses and first responders whose salaries are too high to qualify for units on College Road, and they’re getting squeezed in the middle. Wrecker’s Cay satisfies this acute need and will do so quickly.”
If built, the nearly 300-unit Wrecker’s Cay would represent the largest Key West-area housing project in 50 years to concentrate on median- and moderate-income housing. Its developer is financing the project without benefit of tax credits and believes units could come on line 12 months from approval.
“This is critical to so many areas of workforce in Key West but especially so in healthcare,” said David Clay, CEO of Lower Keys Medical Center and an executive committee member of the chamber board. “Health care in the Keys will be diminished if we don’t create more housing in this category.”
The Monroe County planning staff has green-lighted the Wrecker’s Cay project but last-second hurdles have been introduced, including the county’s request to borrow building rights from Key West, and appeals by commissioners to expand low-income units.
“We urge the city and county to come together in the interest of our workforce,” said Greg Sullivan, president of the Key West Chamber board and regional manager for Waste Management. “These opportunities don’t come along very often and it’s critical they act now so the opportunity doesn’t expire.”
The Key West Chamber of Commerce has represented business interests on the island for more than a century. It is governed by a 21-member board of directors representing the largest private employers in Monroe County and observing a mission to serve its members and maintain and promote a viable economy for the businesses and working people of Key West.
