The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-05-03
COMPLAINT ON
NAVY HOUSING

The following letter was received
by The Key West Citizen editor
and was borrowed for this page
because of its interest to home
seekers.
Editor, The Citizen:
/ read with interest of the wife
phoning your paper and saying
that Navy enlisted personnel were
not welcome at Sigsbee Park; for
several of us navy wives are won
dering just what is brewing about
housing in this critical housing
area. When we check on the pro-
gress of our number on the Navy
priority list we find ourselves NOV
ing backwards by several numbers
rather than forwards. And, few
enlisted men have commented
about how very much difference is
made in the finishing of the walls
and floors of the multi-units and
the lush officers's single units and
duplex units (for civilian workers
and officers only
It's most difficult to understand
why the officers and civilians are
hurried into these Sigsbee Park
homes from shedding their equi-
ties in the Sunshine homes behind
them" and from the little Navy
Housing existing in Key West be-
fore the time of Sigsbee Park and
the enlisted personnel continually
postponed. For most of the enlist
ed repeatedly have been paying
much more cash each month in
cramped, termite-eaten, reach-in-
tested, rat-run Key West housing
than these officers will pay in Sigs-
bee Park for beautifully designed
hurricane and fire-pro0f individual
homes. -
/ understand the older Navy
housing units are being cleared of
officers to furnish the enlisted per-
sonnet with cheaper unitS-a Won
derful ideal But, l say the enlisted
man still deserves a fair chance at
living in shiny new quarters-es-
pecially when Sigsbee Park receiv-
ed such favorable comment from
both the recent congressional hous-
ing investigations and our Under
secretary of the Navy, Francis
Whitehair. / recall the visiting con-
gressmen thought it likely that the
government would be able to great
ly reduce Sigsbee Park rentals by
buying up the builders mortgages.
At that future date will Sigsbee
Park be occupied by only officers
and civilians?
Congratulations, Mr.. Editor for
your coverage of news concerning
the service from seaman to admit
raj. / enjoy This Rock Of Ours for
I'm interested in finding out every
thing possible about the history of
Key West and my carrier boy told
me this article would carry such
interesting data from time to time
Susan McAvoy has a nice style of
writing. and l always scan your
daily editorial. Maybe Key West
could be much improved if people
bothered to air their opinions more
in this American newspaper.
Sincerely,
A Navy Wife
editors note: Navy authorities
when questioned with regard to the
above matter gave the following
explanation: single and double
units at Sigsbee Park are being
assigned to officers because they
fall into a higher pay bracket and
can more easily pay the rent. Civil
lianS are allowed the duplex hous-
as for the same reason.
Enlisted personnel will shortly
begin to move into the multiple
units. There has been no prefer
ence shown toward Officers" as
such-it was simply that the con-
tractors were able to finish the
smaller type units first
Peary Court is reserved entirely
for anlscfad parcoppaI ENrt<, .tr.tts