I took the above photo of Marty's Place in Key West. The cottage complex was ideally located in Mid-Town about five blocks from the Atlantic Ocean and easily accessible to Old Town to the west and the three shopping centers to the east. The complex became an independent housing environment in the 1980s. Units were renovated in 2001 and showed well from the street in 2018. The executive director of AH Monroe County spoke to the Key West Association of Realtors the year earlier and told us the existing cottages were in need of renovation once again. Because construction costs are so high here it was decided to raze the exiting units and construct 47 one bedroom units (12 ADA units) with a mix of independent and assisted living apartments. A health clinic will be located in in the building. There will also be 16 parking spaces. We were told construction would be funded by charitable donations and grants.
Within days what had been the home to Key West citizens with special needs was no more. I started to photograph the construction progress. Some construction photos are posted below. CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE.
The new complex started to take shape. I thought it was going to be too tall and too incompatible with the Key West architectural style. But then I looked around the neighborhood which seemingly developed without any forethought. I came to believe that Marty's Place might become model of what could happen to the area.
Marty's Place is now complete. Residents have moved it. I took new photos yesterday and spotted a plant and chair on one of the balconies. Do you have any idea how great that is for residents to have a balcony to enjoy our sunshine and the ocean breezes?
AH MONROE COUNTY did good. Very good.
