The shopping center formerly known as Searstown will become the Conch RePublix Shoppes in the coming years as developers completely replace one of Key West’s original strip malls that was built in 1965.
Despite 20 years of discussions about building affordable housing above the three main shopping centers on North Roosevelt Boulevard, plans for the new Searstown include no housing units. That omission prompted Commissioner Sam Kaufman to cast the lone dissenting vote against the project at the April 1 city commission meeting.
The other six elected officials approved the major development plan that will see the replacement of the entire center, which includes Publix, TJ Maxx, Outback Steakhouse among other businesses.
Kaufman expressed serious frustration at the April 1 city commission meeting at the omission of any affordable housing units in the development plans.
“This project is a block from my house and a block from my office,” he said. “I’ve been asking about this project for years, and yet the first I heard about it was when I saw it on the agenda this week. Why is there no inclusion of affordable housing in these plans?”
Kaufman reminded his fellow commissioners that officials have discussed for decades the possibility of construction workforce housing apartments above the Searstown Plaza, Overseas Market and Key Plaza.
“The city even approved a density increase of 40 units per acre to incentivize shopping centers to add housing,” Kaufman said. “Many people in the community are asking why there’s no housing in these plans. How many times are we going to see these missed opportunities? How many times are we going to drop the ball and not require developers to provide affordable housing.”
Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover agreed with Kaufman, saying, “We have indeed dropped the ball,” before voting in favor of the new Conch RePublix Shoppes as proposed by Key West attorney Bart Smith.
The redevelopment of the shopping center will start with the demolition and replacement of the old Sears space. Publix will move into that new space while a new supermarket is built at the opposite end of the plaza. Publix will then move back into its original, replaced location.
The project will be completed in four phases to minimize interruptions for tenant businesses as much as possible, Smith said.
The first phase is expected to be complete and open by fall of 2028 with the final phase expected to be finished by 2031.
In other news…
In other city commission news, officials voted 6 to 1 to hold a special election in November to ask voters to increase the mayor’s term from two years to four years. Kaufman voted against the proposal for a second time, saying it’s because he opposes the expenditure of $50,000 to $70,000 on a special election.
Former mayor Sheila Mullins spoke in support of the proposal.
“Two years is very brief,” she said. “You’re just getting your feet under you and finding the resources you may have available at the state and federal level, but before you know it, your time’s up. I think anyone who has served as mayor would be in support of a four-year term.”
If approved by voters, then the mayor’s four-year term will align with the four year terms that city commissioners get when elected.
