Friday, March 12, 2010

We were pleased to learn earlier this week that an assisted care and independent living community for senior citizens who live in Key West and the Lower Keys is now in the process of distributing requests for proposals to designers, builders and management companies that specialize in elder care.

More than a dozen prospective bidders have already requested copies of the RFP.

Obviously, there's still a long way to go before any shovels hit the ground. Nevertheless, we provisionally salute the Lower Keys Assisted Living Coalition Inc., a volunteer-led nonprofit that has for six years doggedly persevered in pushing this project forward.

When you consider the numerous organizations and people who support this undertaking, it is clearly an important cause that has gained widespread community support.

Two years ago, voters approved a referendum to set aside 4 acres of land carved out of 30 acres the Navy deeded to Key West. Subsequently, the Key West City Commission voted to lease this parcel for 99 years at $1 dollar a year, and Keys Energy Services added an additional 1½ contiguous acres under the same lease terms so as to provide a suitable site for the proposed facility. These parcels are adjacent to Bahama Village.

The coalition obtained cash gifts from board members, friends and community leaders to provide operating funds and engage a consulting firm to assess market demand in the Lower Keys, explore financing options and prepare a preliminary architectural concept for the proposed site.

Finally, many local professionals contributed their services to complete various detailed legal, engineering and other planning tasks necessary to comply with land use codes and other requirements. The city attorney's staff, the city's Planning Department and the state Department of Community Affairs provided encouragement and guidance in meeting the various and complicated planning tasks associated with a project of this scale.

Community support continues to be important. Once successful bidders are chosen, yet another comprehensive round of applications must be submitted for approval as plans are finalized. Moreover, successful bidders are expected to invest substantial funding to build and operate this facility, and they will not do so absent evidence of local support.

It is, and has been, our opinion that an assisted care and independent living community for elders is a necessity here, especially in view of the fact that our population continues to grow older.

As things stand now, too many aging seniors have no choice other than to leave family, friends, neighbors and physicians and relocate to distant cities to live out their remaining years. To our way of thinking, this is cruel. It's unnecessary, too.

The facility being proposed by the coalition will be financially self-sustaining, a private-sector undertaking designed to accommodate residents of various income levels.

It is not a government project, and will not burden taxpayers.

We hope that the request for proposal process will move ahead smoothly and as swiftly as possible. Our seniors deserve such an option in their golden years.

-- The Citizen