Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen
Saturday, October 24, 2009
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Peary Court military housing now open to civilians
BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com

Renters looking for a secure place to live might consider the Peary Court military housing complex, as the Navy and a private company that manages the property are advertising rental units available for civilians.

The Navy, Coast Guard and other government agencies have not completely filled the 157-house complex with military personnel and civilian contractors who have priority, so now Balfour Beatty is advertising $1,995 two-bedroom, 1½-bathroom apartments to people not affiliated with the military.

That figure includes utilities, said Kathy Grim, spokeswoman for Balfour Beatty, which manages military housing for 11 Navy bases in the Southeast region, including Peary Court.

She declined to give details about how many units are available.

Under the Navy's contract with Balfour Beatty, the housing always has been available to non-military people, but only if the military doesn't call dibs first, said Naval Air Station Key West spokesman Jim Brooks.

"That's part of our agreement," Grim said. "Our first priority is our military members. Once we have met that need, then we move on to the next level of applicable groups."

Residents must pass muster with the Navy before their applications are approved, Brooks added. The Navy completes background checks and credit checks on all applicants, and Capt. Steven Holmes has the final say on any applicant's approval.

Applicants could be denied based on prior criminal conduct, felony convictions, drug convictions or any record of disrespect for law enforcement, Brooks said. Registered sex offenders are not accepted, Brooks said.

Residents must have a base photo ID and proper stickers on their cars, which will grant them access to Peary Court, but not other Navy property, Brooks said.

Peary Court stretches from Palm Avenue to White Street and has been a part of Key West history since the 1800s, when it was an Army post.

For information about renting an apartment in Peary Court, call Blaine Cleckley at the Balfour Beatty management office at 305-292-5590 or online at http://www.naskeywesthomes.com.

alinhardt@keysnews.com

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Reinstate the Draft

Submitted on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 12:46pm
All these ungrateful civilians bitching about Naval housing are lucky there is no draft any longer. If Charles Rangel ever gets his wish, all of you young ones will serve in a uniform and see what it's like to have private contractors types (friends of Bush and Clinton) making more money, enjoying better digs, and retiring with bigger pensions. The freaking truck drivers in Iraq were paid over $100 k to move supplies only when the bullets weren't flying. Supplies arrived late or never, troops went without water refills, the war was supposed to be Shock and Awe, and the awe was in awful supply and transport by private contractors who were too afraid to move into a hot zone. The whole US Military is now the Military Industrial Complex. The military exists to back up corporate policy which now directs our foreign policy. To take back our military, we need a draft with no deferments, just as they do in Israel and Swizerland.

Affordable Housing?

Submitted on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 12:31pm
$1995 a month for a 2 Br/2 Ba? That's moonbat crazy talk. That's like something Ed Swift would dream up as "affordable".

Peary Court rentals

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 11:03pm
I for one do not see paying $1,995.00 afordable. You can buy a home and pay less than that for a mortgage and not counting the utilities too. Enough is enough... stop trying to think we the community are stupid here. Military never pays for utilites, so why start now with the rentals to the civilians.

Educate yourself...

Submitted on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 5:12pm
First... EVERY military member gives up their BAH to live in Military Housing. This money covers the house and utilities... so we DO pay for the utilities, we just do not see a bill. Some of us have been smart enough to realize we were getting screwed and moved into town. Second... the DoD workers that have moved into Military Housing got to move into renovated units while AD military were left in substandard housing and told they could not move into a renovated unit. Meanwhile many of them are paying much less to live there than the AD military. Third... the DoD workers who moved into Military Housing also gained access to shop at the Navy Exchange NOT the Commissary. Which is ok since the NEX is really not for the AD anyway. Can't even get the uniform items we need there, but if we need booze or Key West crap there is plenty of that. Fourth... it is so nice to finally see how the locals really feel about the military here in Key West. So glad I can defend your freedom on a daily basis so you can call me a whiner and brat. Next time I am on the front lines defending your freedom to be stupid and talk out of your butt I will think of you! Go NAVY!!!

Peary Court Rentals

Submitted on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 12:52pm
Apparently, you can't read - "That figure includes utilities". Why don’t you do a little research before you spout off your uneducated opinions? Stupid is as stupid does. http://www.acq.osd.mil/housing/ Eventually all service members living in privatized housing will be responsible for paying directly for their utility consumption. Until the units are individually metered this is not possible. Under the direct billing program, conservation of utilities can be a finacial benefit to the individual member as they may save money. Overuse of utilities, on the other hand, could result in the member having to pay some utility costs out of pocket.

For your information...

Submitted on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 11:26am
The military has to give up more than $1995 a month from their BAH to live on the base. And I suggest that the military take the suggestion posted earlier from one of the fine KW citizens and stop shopping and putting money into their community for just one month... then see how quickly their attitude changes towards us. Of all the places I have been stationed in the United States, I have never heard such an ungrateful and unpatriotic community as I am seeing here in Key West... disgusting, and sad.

For your information...

Submitted on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 11:18am
The military gives up more than this amount from their BAH to live on base. And I suggest to the military personnel that we do just as another KW citizen suggested on here and stop shopping and putting money into their community for just one month and see how quickly their attitude changes toward us. Of all of the places I have been stationed at throughout my military career, I have never heard such an ungrateful and unpatriotic community as Key West. So sad...

Who in their right mind...

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 4:56pm
...would WANT to live in Peary Court and have neighbors with attitudes such as those displayed by the spoiled brats whining that "their benefits" are being diluted? Navy brass is trying to help keep the lights on for you by renting out unneeded housing, and you're whining about it? Besides, Peary Court's housing is falling apart and looks like a slum. Make you a deal: all military personnel move on base, and I bet your honchos will back off from proposing renting to civilians.

Spoiled??? are you kidding?

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 10:18pm
Those spoiled brats defend your right to do whatever you do every day. Military life is especially hard on families because of deployments. Next time you want to call them spoiled ask the children who don't see their mothers or fathers because they are gone for a year at a time at WAR. These folks deserve our gratitude, not our rancor and bad manners. If most folks had any knowledge of the military besides what's shown in the movies or tv would know its not all peaches and cream...

Our benifits

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 12:30pm
are being watered down. The civilians that live on base already have the right to shop at the exchange and purchase gas. They are not allowed to buy liquor or cigaretts, but do anyway.

Please Know of What You Speak

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 5:11pm
There are two types of civilians, regular people and those who use to be military, have retired and went back to work for the government. Teachers and others who work at the base also get exchange and commissary privileges.

So you joined up for cheap booze and cigarettes...

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 5:11pm
What's that say about you? I hope not all military people are that low-class. As a taxpayer, I resent that you get those things cheap, and I sure resent having my taxes pay for your medical care as a result. And there's another "e" in the word "cigarette", in case you didn't know.

Cheap?

Submitted on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 11:15am
Actually, I find a lot of items less expensive in town. Now of course on the mainland it is less expensive to shop at the commissary. The exchange is usually cheaper than the mall but like most military families, I can not afford the mall prices and prefer to shop a variety of other stores.

Hey moron we pay taxes too

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 10:20pm
Do you think we don't pay taxes as military or federal government? You must be dumb, I pay plenty of taxes, probably more than you.

Hey smart guy, unless

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 10:16pm
Hey smart guy, unless deployed in an imminent danger zone (that usually means a combat zone for the uninitiated), the men and women of armed forces pay taxes as well. Hmm, so in effect, we pay a portion of our own salary. Did you know that the much of the money that we spend on base getting the “cheap stuff” fund other programs on the base? So you resent having to pay for medical care for a Soldier who was hit by an improvised explosive device? Nice. By the way, what price do you place the separation of a service member and their family? I am sure you are thinking, we knew what we were getting into when we joined. Yeah, we did and we would do it again. Who else is going to do the job? My suggestion is to report to your nearest recruiter and give back something more than the cost of the Citizen and the time it took you to exercise your freedom of speech typing you comment. By the way, I resent having to defend your freedom of speech as a result of my SERVICE to our nation.

Hell with you.

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 4:40pm
Military pay USED to be pretty low, which is why you get cheap stuff. That's no longer the case. You're paid pretty well. Screw you!

If you think the military is so great...

Submitted on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 11:33am
then join! Even idiots like yourself can be assigned to mop a deck or something. Don't be jealous... just put down your beer and go see your recruiter!

Harry Powell was right

Submitted on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 8:36am
there was never any need for developing Peary court, Curry sold us out on a Bubba deal development project. I'm suprised he didn't become city manager back then. also makes you wonder what Scholl did to get his current job.

Harry Was on the Right Track...

Submitted on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 5:11pm
Harry should have blown the place up if it would have done any good. Nothing but lies from the military. Never was needed. What the hell are they building that other development for out on the water in the middle of town. Another place for retired military to stay at $10 a nite?

Long Live Harry Powell!

Submitted on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 3:21am
Harry Powell was right about Peary Court all along. It was never needed. It turned Key West's "Central Park" into a gated community. It took away the ball fields and the safe circle where children learned to ride their bicycles. The champion trees are gone. They should offer Harry Powell a free apartment for life. The Navy was wrong and Harry was right.

KW Navy & Coast Guard Members Call your Congresswoman

Submitted on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 10:04pm
I joined the military almost 20 years ago and I believe I am now seeing the end of many of our hard earned benefits. I am disgusted that our Navy and congress would ever allow civilians to reside on a military base in the name of profit making. We as stewards of the service must take back and not allow anymore of our benefits to be eroded. Wait until they start allowing civilians to shop in the commissary and exchange, and receive care at the clinics. Enough is enough, why did I spend the last 20 years deploying, away from my family to have this happen. What's next for our Navy...part time help on the flightline? DISGUSTING.

Navy showing true colors?

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 4:44pm
GO AWAY NAVY!!!!!!!

All right... let's play your game, spoiled brat...

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 4:39pm
Let's restrict military personnel to the base. STAY OUT OF OUR STORES, OUR THEATERS, OUR PARKS. You have your own facilities. You're not welcome in OUR community... JERK!!!

IT"S BECAUSE

Submitted on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 3:18pm
of us "Jerks" that you even have your community. Somewhere across this lovely country of ours, there's a Soldier, a Sailor, a Marine or an Airdale laying in his grave because he died on the front line protecting and serving people of your nature. How about you show a little more respect if not for us, the service members residing in Key West then do it for the onee who wake up every morning in a desert with a rifle in their hands fighting for you to have the right to call yourself an American. If the pride for your country is that low than your only 90 miles from the nearest exit. If you do consider yourself to have American pride then how can you not have pride for the ones who stand up and fight!

Get A Life Swabbie

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 2:18pm
Please, don't make me cry. What we have today is a mercinary army and navy, pure and simple. Don't be fooled by these bleeding heart opportunists, they are in it entirely for the outsized lifetime pay and benefits for themselves and their freeloading families. They are not patriots. The sooner Key West gets rid of the bloody military the better.

Another KW Citizen error?

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 12:06pm
Let's hope the Citizen got it WRONG or INCOMPLETE (again) & real facts = "offered to military retirees or DOD contractors...". Better, but not the best. Still...Call Congresswoman ILY!!! She LOVES this stuff. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's Keys Staff: 305-304-7789 (Kim Sovia Crandon)

You're bitter and you know it

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 10:40am
Get over yourself. You should have got out at 10 years...now you're stuck til 30 to get your full retirement benes. Just be glad you have a job and haven't taken a pay-cut in this Barrack Hussein Obama economy. Are you living in almost total privacy because there is nobody living around you at Peary Court? That isn't the way it works in Key West. Having worked with the US Gov on several projects in the past I know it loves to waste money when it can. Maybe you need a paycut??

Peary Court

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 10:08am
Funny that a few months ago the Navy Captain said Peary Court would likely be sold to a private developer in an interview with Bill Becker. The next day it was all denied and hushed up. Now it has basically happened. Check out Balfour Beatty, GMHmilitaryhousing.com, google MHPI, and ATEC Housing - it's all gone private as a private profit center.

Yes... CALL!!!!

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 8:44am
We lived in Sigsbee prior to BB taking over in a house that was infested with bugs,falling apart and was a health and safety hazzard. We the family of a 20 year Navy sailor were not allowed to move into a renovated unit. BUT they moved civilians in to them at almost half the rate that we were giving up in BAH. Thanks soooo much for taking care of the AD member!!! I don't care what background and credit checks are done on people. They can still bring in guests that are not safe. We wanted to live in military housing for the comraderie and safety. That is no longer available here. Take you BAH and go out in town to rent. You get more for your money!!!

Your comments are an embarrassment...

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 8:40am
... to the men and women in uniform who are proud to be part of this community.

Take a chill-pill!!!

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 8:33am
DoD's coming to the conclusion they built more housing than they needed when they decided to bulldoze the green space at Peary Court doesn't reduce your "benefits". What wrong, you don't want to be more a part of the community? We appreciate your service, but we hope you didn't sign up because you thought it allowed you to live in a sequestered neighborhood. And honest, we civilians don't stink. We bathe every day. (And we pay your salary and benefits.) You trying to create feelings on our part that we don't want YOU shopping in our civilian stores, partaking of civilian recreation and cultural amenities? I'm a veteran myself, and I don't think I have ever seen an attitude such as you've expressed. Get over yourself unless you're tring to stir up resentment toward the military. Now, how about a big hug?

Get over yourself.

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 7:17am
Get over yourself.

I agree to a point. If the

Submitted on Sat, 10/24/2009 - 11:14pm
I agree to a point. If the Military had not wasted so many resources and overspent on housing that was not needed then they would not have the surplus housing. They need to utilize the other bases they have and relinquish some others completely and reduce debt. Stop the overspending and keep the military bases for the military.

Amazing locals..

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 8:25pm
I am embarrassed to be a Floridian after reading these hateful comments towards the military. Unless you have put on a uniform then you should keep all the silly comments to yourself...Do you Key West'ers realize how much us Federal Government types put into the economy here every year? Take a stab...around 200-300 million dollars. You think those idiot tourists spend that kind of money? I don't think so..Want access to our bases, get commissioned or enlist! But you might have to pass a drug test so that could be a problem!

What about Southernmost Point

Submitted on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 7:23pm by Ed
If Peary House is not bad enough, what is the story with the OCEAN FRONT houses next to Southernmost Point. Who gets to live here and what are they paying?? They have a solid fence to prevent the people in Bahama Village from even seeing the Ocean from the Parks on Catherine Street. Why dont we take out the dozen or so houses here and put an ocean front park and beach in next to Southernmost Point. This would be great for tourists and the kids in The Village.

Military member

Submitted on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 7:47pm
Good question, I don't know if those disappeared into an imaginary void, but they sure aren't available for the military, if that's what you're thinking. I seen them advertised on a civ. realty site, though. What this all comes down to is I see a lot of adults acting like children. I am going to put my opinions aside and simply say SHAME ON YOU. We pay 2500 a month for the same houses, so I don't see the problem the civilians have, it's certainly not sloppy seconds. You military, why are you rising to the bait and acting as juvenile? This is one big temper tantrum of a forum, with most of the civilians in truth uneducated about this internal situation.
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