BREAKING: Navy Defends Outer Mole Lease Termination, Says Boat Races Still Expected to Proceed
NAS Key West says groups can still use pier for events through short-term agreements as federal government seeks new proposals for waterfront site.
KEY WEST, Fla. — The U.S. Navy says its decision to terminate the City of Key West’s long-standing lease for the Outer Mole Pier was part of a broader review of land use agreements at Naval Air Station Key West, while emphasizing that it remains open to allowing community events at the federally controlled waterfront site through separate short-term agreements.
In a statement provided Thursday to Above the Fold, Danette Baso-Silvers, Public Affairs Officer for NAS Key West, said the lease termination followed “an evaluation of Navy land use and real estate agreements” at the installation.
“The decision to terminate the lease was made in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement,” Silvers wrote.
The statement marks the Navy’s most detailed public explanation to date since Above the Fold broke the news earlier this month that the Department of the Navy had formally moved to end the city’s lease at the Outer Mole. It also confirmed previous reporting with no mention of any military concerns about Cuba.
Baso-Silvers said the Navy “values its partnership with the City of Key West” and remains willing to host specific community events at the pier, provided organizers negotiate event-specific real estate agreements directly with the Department of the Navy.
The clarification appears aimed at easing concerns surrounding the future of the 44th. Annual Key West World Championship powerboat races, one of the city’s signature tourism events.
According to the statement, the city’s request to use the pier for this year’s races has already been endorsed by NAS Key West Commanding Officer Capt. Colin Thompson and forwarded to the Navy’s real estate division for processing.
The Navy also said it intends to move forward with previously planned seawall repairs connected to the Outer Mole property with the city as a strategic partner.
According to Baso-Silvers, funding for the repairs was collected during the city’s prior use of the pier and is already being held in escrow, meaning no new direct spending by the city is expected to complete the project.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Navy has opened a formal Request for Interest seeking proposals for potential future uses of the Outer Mole Pier, signaling that federal officials may be exploring new long-term arrangements for the highly visible waterfront property.
The solicitation was posted through the federal contracting portal SAM.gov.
The Navy has not publicly identified what types of proposals it may consider or whether future plans could involve commercial cruise operations, private development interests or expanded military uses. However, the published RFI requests that interests parties be able to demonstrate experience in operating a maritime facility like the Mole Pier.
The Outer Mole has been a political flashpoint in Key West for years, particularly after voters approved a 2020 referendum intended to limit large cruise ships at the island city’s ports. Portions of that referendum were later overturned by the Florida Legislature, but adopted as ordinance by a unanimous vote of the City Commission.
Because the Outer Mole remains federally owned property, the Navy retains broad authority over its use despite years of operational involvement by the city through lease agreements and event coordination.
This is an evolving story. Watch this space.