City officials, partnering agencies, and the community celebrated the grand opening of the Lofts in Bahama Village this morning. The project, located at the Truman Waterfront Park, includes 98 rental and 28 homeownership affordable units.

The Lofts of Bahama Village is a joint effort between the City, AH Monroe, and VestCor. The City of Key West deeded the 3.2 acres to VestCor, which partnered with AH Monroe as a sponsor. The land was originally transferred to City ownership from the federal government in the late 90s.

“Today, we gather not just to open a new housing development, but to celebrate a promise kept, a dream realized, and a future strengthened,” said Key West Mayor Danise “DeeDee” Henriquez. “The Lofts at Bahama Village are more than buildings, they are opportunity. This development gives our local workforce, our families, and our young people a chance to live, work, and thrive right here at home.”

The housing is the crowning glory of the redevelopment of the old Navy property. The Truman Waterfront Park, with its soccer field, green space, waterfront promenade, and amphitheater, is the crown jewel of Key West.

“I want to thank the previous City Commissioners, the Bahama Village Redevelopment Advisory Committee, the Key West Housing Authority, the Vestcor team, the State of Florida, AH, Toppino's and every partner who played a role in bringing this project to life,” said Mayor Henriquez. “Most importantly, I want to thank the residents, the people of Bahama Village, who made their voices heard and helped shape what this project would become. Your input, your pride, and your love for this community guided us every step of the way.”
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The Mayor and every speaker at today’s ribbon cutting ceremony said whole-heartedly “Welcome home!”

The Honorable Mayor Danise Henriquez has been selected by the Florida League of Cities (FLC) to serve on one of its five Legislative Policy Committees. Recognized for her expertise in taxation, Mayor Henriquez is currently serving on the Finance and Taxation Committee, which is responsible for developing the League’s Legislative Platform — outlining priority issues most likely to impact municipal governance and local decision-making in the upcoming legislative session.

During the FY-2025 session, the Committee prioritized reviewing proposed legislation related to property tax reductions and exemptions. The FLC’s Legislative Priority on Property Taxes supports preserving the ability of municipalities to levy property taxes, which fund essential services such as infrastructure, police, fire, and emergency response. The League cautions that further exemptions or reductions could create inequities and unfairly shift the tax burden onto families, homeowners, renters, businesses, and vulnerable residents.

FLC’s FY-2025 Policy Position supported maintaining municipal authority to collect local business taxes to promote economic growth, ensure public safety, deliver emergency services, and advance community development.

As a member of the Finance and Taxation Committee, Mayor Henriquez will contribute to developing the FY-2026 Legislative Priorities and Policy Positions to be presented to the State of Florida.
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Proposed property tax related bills are captured here:  https://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/1178/Intergovernmental-and-Legislative-Affairs

​The Key West Police Department is ready for Halloween! Our Mounted Unit will be patrolling the New Town neighborhoods where most of the local trick-or-treating happens. During this special night for kids, there are a few tips to remember to keep our kids and community safe:

When little ghosts and goblins take to the streets, the biggest threat they face is motor vehicle traffic -- something for parents and drivers to keep in mind.

For motorists, extreme caution is the rule for Halloween night. Be prepared for children to run across the street, come out of nowhere, and be oblivious to traffic.

Children should be accompanied by adults when trick-or-treating. A responsible grown-up will be the person with a flashlight, leading the way when there’s a need to cross the street. Reflective tape or reflective costumes make children highly visible and much safer.

Surprisingly, simply falling down is also a leading cause of accidental injury on Halloween, the result of children tripping on their own costumes. Make sure their costume fits well and check that the child can see through any mask that he or she might be wearing.

Older children and teenagers need to be reminded that Halloween trick-or-treating is okay but vandalism will not be tolerated. Any deliberate act that damages property or causes harm to another person is a crime and police officers will treat it as such.
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In addition to protecting children this Halloween, it is also important to protect property as well. Battery powered lights are always a safer alternative to candles inside pumpkins. If you decide to use candles, never leave them unattended, and make sure children are never left unsupervised around them.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and City of Key West Staff and elected officials gathered today to show their support and raise awareness by wearing pink!

Human Resources Director Bridget Flores urged everyone to wear pink on Monday to “show your support for breast cancer warriors everywhere.”
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Since 1985 when it was organized by the American Cancer Foundation, October has been a time to celebrate survivors, remember those who have not, and raise awareness and funding for research.

There’s still time to renew your Residential Parking Permit for Old Town. The stickers will help ensure marked residential parking spaces are reserved for residents.

The City of Key West has made renewal very easy – renew online! Just go to the City of Key West website Parking Department page and click the “purchase parking permits” on the left side of the page. Your permit will be mailed to you. The cost of the permits remains the same as last year: $39.13 for a full year of parking.

The 2025 Residential Parking Permits are valid through the end of October.

Residential permits allow for parking in the spaces marked "Residential" in the historic neighborhoods, and they grant a 4-hour free parking credit once a day in select City lots. 

Applicants will need to upload proof of residency, a valid driver's license, and vehicle registration to qualify for a residential permit.

In addition to ensuring that residents can park in the marked residential spaces, the permit allows for free parking for up to four hours, one time per day, by redeeming that time at the pay station or in the app. The free extra parking is available in the following lots:
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• Fire Station #2 in the 600 block of Simonton – Zone 33054
• Key West Bight main lot in the 800 block of Caroline – Zone 33046
• Park N Ride garage in the 300 block of Grinnell – Zone 33048
• Truman Waterfront Park (except during events) -- Zone 33051
• Smathers Beach on-street parking on South Roosevelt Blvd – Zone 33053
• Jackson Square behind the county courthouse, nights and weekends only – Zone 33049

Beginning Friday, October 17th Key West Transit will have temporary detours due to the Goombay Festival. They are as follows:
 
Workforce Route – Will bypass Whitehead and Petronia area. Instead using Truman to Emma on the inbound trip and continuing regular service from there. The following stops will not be serviced:
 

• Petronia & Whitehead 
• Emma & Petronia

 
Lower Keys Shuttle – Will bypass Whitehead and Petronia area. Instead using Whitehead, Fleming, Simonton and Truman and continuing regular service. The following stops will not be serviced:

• Whitehead & Petronia

 
Duval Loop – Will bypass Whitehead and Petronia area. Instead using Whitehead, Fleming Simonton and Truman and continuing regular service. The following stop will not be serviced:
 

• Whitehead & Petronia (Stop 8)

 
Key West Rides – Will bypass Whitehead and Petronia area. The following stops will not be serviced:
 

• Petronia & Whitehead 
• Emma & Petronia

 
To avoid inconvenience, plan ahead using the Passio Go app for real-time updates. Please allow extra travel time during the festival period. Regular service will resume on Sunday, October 19th.

Mayor Danise “DeeDee” Henriquez and the Key West City Commission have proclaimed October as Christian Heritage Month, recognizing the rich history and impact of the Christian faith on our nation and community.

“Christian principles have played a significant role in shaping the values of faith, love, justice, family, and service that continue to strengthen the fabric of our island community,” reads the proclamation.

Key West is home to many churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations that have contributed to the well-being of our residents through prayer, ministry, education, charitable service, disaster relief, and community building.
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The recognition, says the proclamation, provides an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual foundations that have inspired countless individuals and families to live lives of faith, service, and integrity.

Mayor Danise “DeeDee” Henriquez and the City Commission this month recognized the 25th anniversary of the City’s official motto of “One Human Family.”

“Key West is an enlightened island community,” reads the proclamation, “that is passionate about all living together as caring, sharing neighbors and that each of us are dedicated to making our home as close to paradise as we can,”
J.T. Thompson came up with the motto of One Human Family in the 1990s as a way to unite the diverse community that is Key West. On October 17th, 2000, the City Commission adopted the phrase as the city’s motto.

Since then, Thompson has been providing bumper stickers and wristbands bearing the motto. As he accepted the proclamation, he noted that, more than 4.5 million stickers have been distributed free around the world.

He told the story of one Saharan tribe that was completely isolated when local author Amy Culver visited them and shared the sticker. Thompson said it took some time, but the members of the tribe adopted the notion in a way that changed their world view.
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“This motto made them part of the human tribe,” said Thompson. “That’s how important these three words are.”
“We want to share our unique perspective and simple (but true) words of hope,” continues the proclamation, “with our global neighbors, so others can find inspiration to grow beyond the artificial limitations of racism, nationalism, sexism, classism, religious intolerance, prejudice, homophobia, and every other illusion used to try to separate us from all being equal.”

October 8, 2025 - The City of Key West is thrilled to see the installation of the newest Art in Public Places project at the Historic Seaport plaza at the corner of Elizabeth and Greene Streets.

Artists Darcy Ferrill and Shawn Trentlage are putting the finishing touches on the first – and largest – of four installations that will welcome residents and visitors to the island city’s crown jewel of a seaport.

“It is rewarding to see the artwork being installed,” said Florida Keys Council of the Arts Executive Director Liz Young. “Both Darcy and Shawn are Key West residents and work around the country as a public art team. Their other recent Monroe County installation is suspended in the vestibule of the County's state of the art newest library branch in Marathon.”

The installation has several aspects that capture the city’s maritime heritage including several renderings of boats and denizens of our nearshore waters. It incorporates patinaed copper, rusted steel, stainless steel, and aged wood. In fact, Steve Henson, a member of the Bight Board, generously gave the artists some of his personal collection of Dade County pine for the bench. It was the artists’ first time working with Dade County pine, and they found it a real honor.

“The goal of our sculpture for the Key West Historic Seaport is for it to be dynamic, engaging, and memorable to the diverse population of Key West and the even wider collection of visitors to the Historic Seaport each day,” the artists wrote in their proposal for the work that was presented to several boards for approval.

“This project is a stunning example of collaboration between several advisory boards and City staff,” said Young. “The Art in Public Places Board Chair at the time Richard Tallmadge and I went several times to Bight Board to receive their input on possible locations and ideas.”

“Our approach to Public Art,” wrote Ferrill and Trentlage, “has been to create pieces that delight and promote positive energy. Our artwork has a continuous integral thread. This thread is a concept of creating a visual journey, one that if for a moment, transports the viewer.”
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There will be three more installations along Caroline Street, lining the seaport district and helping with wayfinding.

As the City of Key West prepares for Fantasy Fest, some bike racks along Duval Street will be temporarily removed to ensure public safety during the upcoming events. Beginning on October 10th the U-shaped rack will be removed. The racks have already been posted with No Parking signs. The racks will be put back in place after Fantasy Fest.

Bikes left of the racks will be removed and stored by Community Services. Owners of bicycles that must be removed will be required to show proof of ownership and may be charged a storage fee.
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Find nearby bike parking here: https://bit.ly/kwrack