Nine Key West senior citizens recently moved from Bayshore Manor on College Road to the newer Poinciana Gardens on Duck Avenue in Key West, completing the consolidation of assisted-living facilities in the Lower Keys and potentially saving the county more than $1 million a year.
The aging Bayshore Manor could only accommodate up to 16 residents and had no commercial kitchen for hot meal preparation. Yet the county was spending $1.2 million a year to operate it, a figure that frustrated County Commissioner Craig Cates, who urged the county to move the Bayshore residents to Poinciana Gardens, put the $1.2 million savings toward the new Poinciana Gardens facility and use the vacant space at Bayshore Manor for county offices. Such an arrangement would save the county additional money, because it is now paying $250,000 a year to rent office space in Key West, Cates has said, calling the arrangement a “no brainer.”
County officials eventually agreed with him and enlisted financial support from the city of Key West to help fund Poinciana Gardens’ operation for up to three years.
“There’s also space available at Poinciana Gardens to have senior day care services and other activities that bring in additional revenue,” Cates said.
The Key West Housing Authority is currently in negotiations with a potential new manager of Poinciana Gardens, who has some ideas about those additional activities, Cates said.
Housing Authority spokesman Peter Batty said she’s from out of town, is licensed and would be an excellent candidate if they can come to a salary and benefits agreement.
Cates added that the county staff is now considering what to do with the Bayshore property, although he had not yet heard the latest about those options.
“The transition went extremely smoothly,” said Batty. “It’s a win-win, as the county can now close Bayshore Manor.”
