Will the Curse of 530 Crandon Continue?

Weeds grow at 530 Crandon Blvd, the former site of a pump track and a dog park, June 14, 2019. The Key Biscayne Village Council has struggled to finish a park on the site for 16 years. (Key News/Tony Winton)

Is it a “pump track?” Is it a green space? No – it’s 530 Crandon, a 12,500 sq. ft. symbol, for some, of administrative dithering. A light at the end of the tunnel appears – but for how long?

Try as they might, Village officials have been unable to convert the plot opposite the Community Center into anything meaningful, despite acquiring it 16 years ago for $3 million and spending almost $260,000 in that time on planning and design.

Hope glimmered Tuesday as a Village Council vote limped over the line, allowing Manager Andrea Agha to go back to designers and negotiate a reduction in their quote for creating a park on the plot, in time for a second vote on Aug. 27.

The quote was for specifications previously agreed to by the Council – but none of the members could stomach the $1.8 million proposed, and there was broad agreement to pare down the plans.

Exasperation was evident. “I just want to get it done,” said Councilmember Brett Moss.

Since acquiring the land in 2003, successive adminstrations have put forward ideas ranging from a senior center to a fountains-and-pagodas centerpiece park, but none have materialized, with the former Citgo gas station serving instead as a temporary teen-friendly skate track, and a storage yard.

“I’ve done parks,” said Moss, an architect, “and for the cost estimates to go up by almost 100% is mind-boggling.” He suggested Agha should aim for an originally-discussed figure of $800,000 with Critical Path Services, Inc.

Moss also confirmed he is “not married to the pump track” despite advocating for the idea in 2016 and seeing it realized in 2017.

The base amount bid was $1.45 million, with allowances for items including undergrounding utilities, art features and the pump track taking it up to $1.8 million.

In this undated artist’s rendering provided by the Village of Key Biscayne, a proposed park is seen at 530 Crandon Blvd as approved in 2017. Village Council members have asked for changes to reduce the cost of the $1.8 million project. (Village of Key Biscayne via Key News)

Budget issues

The vote may have moved the process forward, but clouds could still loom for 530 Crandon. The budgeting process for the next fiscal year could affect capital expenditure projects like this one. As Key News previously reported, decreasing tax revenues is producing an expected shortfall in the Village’s budget.

For some, hope remains the Village can find the right balance to make the park a reality.

Before Tuesday’meeting, Mayor Mike Davey received a letter from former Vice Mayor Michael Kelly, who started working on converting the plot into a park in 2008.

“Evvery interest group has wanted to build something there, from schools to senior centers to car parks, and with each new Council there’s a new idea – but eventually everyone comes back to the park,” Kelly said.

He acknowledged $1.8 million “seemed like a lot,” but in his letter urged the Council to seize this “historic opportunity to finally achieve [the] dream.”

True to form, the discussions Tuesday were not without contention. Councilmember Luis Lauredo called it a “very emotional piece of land.”  

Members of the Village Beautification Board, represented by Ceci Sanchez, asked why their committee had not been consulted yet on the matter. Mayor Davey asked for them to be involved before the Council’s next vote.

Lauredo also grilled Agha on the concept of “fully funded” projects – that is, those for which an amount has already been earmarked and therefore any savings simply recirculate back into the working capital available.

Lauredo said the public wants unspent monies unspent going toward other projects rather than spending “big money” just because it’s  earmarked.

Davey responded that if a project is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.

While officials consider what changes to make, fencing around 530 Crandon will be removed.

Kelly recalled the $5 million expenditure on the current dog park causing consternation at the time. “But ask them five years later, when we have a beautiful park, are they happy about spending that?”