Key West Seaport Studio Proposals Prompt Delay and Public Debate

At its Nov. 20 meeting the Bight Board elected to postpone action until Dec. 10 on competing plans for the small boxlike building on the Key West Historic Seaport that for years served as Jimmy Buffett’s recording studio known as Shrimp Boat Sound. City staff had recommended entering negotiations with one of the submissions, but the board concluded it needed additional time to address public concern and to confirm that review fee and proposal review rules and other city procedures were properly followed.

The proposals under consideration include an unsolicited public private partnership submitted by Robert Spottswood Jr. and a response to a public notice filed by David Bernsen. The differences between the proposals and their intended uses for the structure prompted debate among board members, city staff and residents over questions of access, preservation, and future management of a publicly owned asset in a high traffic tourism area.

The process attracted attention earlier in November when an online post and a subsequent mass email campaign stirred strong public reaction ahead of the board’s Nov. 12 meeting. That public response carried forward into the Nov. 20 meeting, where board members cited the need for clearer engagement with the community and assurance that the city’s timelines and fee processes were properly applied to both unsolicited and noticed proposals.

Keys Weekly examined the competing submissions and the ensuing controversy, highlighting the cultural resonance of a site tied to a well known musician and the potential economic and operational implications for the Historic Seaport. For residents of Monroe County the dispute raises immediate questions about how city owned properties are managed, who gets priority in development or reuse, and what safeguards exist to ensure transparency and accountability when private parties propose uses for public assets.

Institutionally the episode underscores the Bight Board’s gatekeeper role in managing waterfront assets and the ongoing tension between encouraging investment and protecting public interest. The board’s decision to delay reflects a preference for procedural caution over a hasty commitment, and it creates a window for additional public input and for city staff to clarify evaluation criteria.

The public can expect the issue to return to the Bight Board agenda on Dec. 10, when members will revisit staff recommendations and public comments. How the board balances preservation, commercial opportunity and public access will determine not only the future of the small seaport structure, but also set a precedent for how similar proposals are handled in Monroe County going forward.