The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-09-10
HOUSING SURVEY
Continued from Paes 0ne)

" AvC Iuat tncy can ax10IQ.
The article further quoEe1 Cfaw.
ford as saying that there is q e,
finite need for more low-cost hous.
ing; and Rear Admiral George C.
Towner, the Nays Key West Com.
mander, as agreeing with Craw,
ford's statements.
This criticism came At 4 time
when there were more housing Nm.
its on the island than every be.
fore, and, strangely snough at q
time when there were mere "a.
vertised vacancies than in the pas,
several years.
Realizing that the building Of an,
other low cost housing project in
this area might concsivably prove
economically disas trcus to the eity
in the event Of future recession,
the Chamber Of Commerce Board
OF Directors - at the request d
its president, Mrs. Mary Lee Ora.
ham = Immediately appointed 1
Housing Committee 10 investigate.
Agreement Nsssd
This committee generally agreed
that there are currently more
dwelling units available In Key
West for rental than there have
been for some time, and II i short.
age exists, the probability was
that it centered around the larger
units - two and three bedroom
dwellings.
In which case, the building ID
low cost small units would not heir
the situation, and could tend TO ID,
set local economic balance.
It was decided, then, to conduct
an immediate survey to determine
exactly in what size units The short,
age exists, in order to submit such
findings to interested washinaton
departments before action was IA.
ken.
The results Of this survey - cen.
Quoted over the past six week =.
was reported by the Housing Ana.
lysis Committee to Chamber II
Commerce and Navy rsprsssata-
tiyes yesterday.
raneelele RksSsm~e
Specific results bore out he eri-
ginal opinion Of the Housing Com.
mittee = showing q shortage in
the larger dwelling units - two
and three bedroom. And also N
the fact that figures obtained IN.
dictated rentals IN those units too
high for the average ssrviceman
and his family.
However, smaller units showsd
an average rental less than the
occupants average rental allow.
ance. and also Indicated hat, #
larger units were available, suffi-
Gent small units would be vacated
to more than supply that demand.
During a thorough discussion Of
this situation at yesterdays meet
ing, Navy representatives pointed
out that, although Key West II
ideally located for Naval installa-
tons, the housing situation il Ell.
teal and immediate relief Is nsces,
sary Il Key West is to continue %
grow as Navy town.
The Analysis Committee agreed
that the results. of the survey bore
out this opinion, and q melton was
made and carried to request that
the Housing Committee - Of which
the Analysis group was only q part
Immediately forward the results
OF this survey to interested bs.
reaus and ask that everything pos-
sible be done 10 expedite the build
Ing OF q local low-cost housing pro-
lect to consist Of entirely q two
and three bedroom units.
Nigh csst q censsrvesisn
Today's high construction costs
make It impossible for tie indlvi-
dual local landlord 10 build and
maintain two and three bedroom
dwellings that can rent within the
average serviceman's allowance.
However, large companies gear
co % that type Of work, like stock.
ton, Whatley and DAWN, Ine.--whe
already hold q lease on sutfieient
lane for such a project In Sigshse
Park - can build and rent larger
units within that allowance, and II
Is THIS Recommendation - together
with survey figures TO back II 40
which will be forwarded as soon
as possible.
In closing the meeting, Mrs. Ora.
nam expressed the appreciation d
the Chamber of Commerce, thank
ing Captain Murphy and Leuten-
ant Theriault for the excellent CO.
operation which the Chamber 70.
eeived from Navy personnel dur.
ing the survey.
Mrs. Graham also assured he
Navy representatives that the city
Is proud Of being . Navy town and
IS anxious TO keep the good win oi
me Navy and It's personnel, and
that every possible effort win be
made to help alleviate the present
shortage Of larger dwelling units.