Bight Board to Consider $1.3M in Seaport Contracts, Leases and Long-Stalled Tall Ship Update
Repairs, retail lease renewal and Western Union status headline Wednesday’s agenda.
The Key West Bight Management District Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider more than $1.3 million in construction contracts and lease actions tied to waterfront repairs, tenant agreements and capital improvements at the Historic Seaport.
The board will convene at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at City Hall, 1300 White St., according to the meeting agenda .
Among the largest items is a recommendation that the Community Redevelopment Agency award a $452,243 contract to Sharp Edge Construction Inc. for spalling repairs at 201 William St., a Historic Seaport structure affected by prolonged exposure to marine conditions. The action would authorize the city manager to execute the contract pending legal approval .
The board will also consider a five-year lease renewal for Dragonfly Key West, continuing its tenancy of Unit G on Lazy Way Lane, a high-visibility commercial space along the Historic Seaport’s pedestrian corridor. Dragonfly operates a clothing and jewelry boutique at the location. The proposed action includes approval of a lease agreement and personal guaranty and would extend the tenancy without a competitive rebid .
Another major item involves approval of Task Order No. 13, totaling $463,199.40, for a “vanilla-box” renovation of 276 Margaret St., a city-owned building near the Historic Seaport. The work would be performed by Sea Tech of the Florida Keys, Inc. under an existing construction services contract and would require associated budget transfers. Vanilla-box renovations typically include core interior improvements such as utilities, HVAC systems and restrooms, without tenant-specific build-out .
The board is also scheduled to receive a quarterly update on the schooner Western Union, which serves as the State of Florida’s official tall ship. The vessel has been out of service and in a state of disrepair since being moved to Robbie’s Marina in 2020, according to prior public records and board materials. The update comes amid ongoing questions regarding restoration costs, funding sources and the ship’s long-term future .
Additional agenda items include a director’s report, marina rent rolls, tenant charge summaries and a marketing update from Adept Marketing.
Absent from the agenda is any discussion about the future of Jimmy Buffett’s Shrimp Boat Sound recording studio.
Public comment is scheduled before board discussion and adjournment.
The Bight Management District oversees leasing, capital projects and daily operations at the Key West Historic Seaport, a centerpiece of the city’s tourism economy and working waterfront.
The meeting is open to the public and will also be live-streamed on the City website.