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Advocacy For Residents, Education and Preservation

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Affordable Housing: We’ve waited so long… let’s get this right.

7 Apr 2026 12:01 PM | Anonymous

The Village owns numerous properties that were acquired with workforce housing needs in mind:

  • Four lots, Woods Avenue, acquired 5/2017, for $390,000, 8 rental 1/1 units planned, status?

  • Island Silver and Spice, acquired 12/2021, for $2.75M, no plan yet?

  • Machado, MM88.5, acquired 5/2021, for $1.8M, RFQ in process for 16 units… Selection committee  recommends huge South Florida developer.

  • Decision on Machado RFQ anticipated at May Council meeting


Between 2017 and 2021, the Village spent approximately $5 million for major land purchases for potential affordable housing sites. Properties are still sitting vacant.


In addition to the possibility of affordable housing on Village owned properties, there are hundreds of workforce/affordable housing units in the pipeline in the Upper Keys.


Much has changed from 2017 - 2021 when these lands were acquired that may impact affordable housing:

  • The Village citizen committee presented 10 significant recommendations that the Council directed staff to move forward last month.

  • An all-new Comprehensive Plan is under review.

  • Changes to the Village Charter are being considered.

  • Ordinances impacting affordable housing opportunities are in the works  


Flawed Process?

The selection process itself may be critically flawed, with conflicts between the Village Purchasing Policy and Procedures Manual and the actual process in use.



Recommendation for Machado Property, MM88.5. A selection committee, made up of 5 members of staff, met last week to rank the proposals submitted by developers to do a deed restricted affordable project on the $1.8 million Machado property.


The selection is scheduled for the May 12 Council meeting, with the selection committee ranking the huge for-profit South Florida builder, ANF Group, ahead of the not-for-profit Upper Keys Habitat for Humanity, the only other proposal.


The Village plan according to the RPQ is to lease the property to the selected firm for 99 years: no rental income for the Village, for the $1.8 million property.


The proposals will become public on April 24 and more details will be available then.


We think any decision about affordable housing should be deferred until we have clear direction as to the real needs.
 


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ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com

Islamorada Community Alliance

P.O. Box 1507

Tavernier, FL  33070-1507




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