The Village had purchased the “Machado Property” at about MM88.6 bayside

in 2021 and it has been sitting vacant ever since.  In January the Village advertised for proposals to find a developer to enter a 99 year lease with Islamorada and build and manager 16 affordable housing units at the site.  

Two proposals were submitted (local Habitat for Humanity and ANF, a corporation out of Broward County.) The staff selection committee, ranked ANF # 1 with their plan to build two multi-family apartment style buildings totaling either 32 or 16 rental units, mostly 1 bedroom units.  Habitat offered an alternative plan - 9 ownership single family homes.

The original May 12 agenda uploaded on May 8 for public review included only the ANF proposal.  We think for such a critical and controversial issue, the Council and public should be provided both proposals and both organizations should make a presentation. (Think back to the Comp Plan update process when the council selected a group ranked #2 after hearing the presentations).

Why are so few proposals being submitted to the Village for critical projects?

Will the Council consider the concerns of the neighboring community? Will the hammock lots involved be protected? Why were they included in the RFP when a primary goal in the Village is to protect our environment?  Yes, affordable housing is a concern.  We have had 25 years now to work on getting more affordable housing and we have less than 140 deed restricted units… less than 6 per year.

Click Here for our suggested solution.