Florida Keys News
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Roosevelt project fence scrapped
State to install 9-inch curb instead to keep ocean view unspoiled during roadwork
BY JOHN DeSANTIS Citizen Staff

So far as state transportation and Key West city officials were concerned, fencing in the island's distinctive sea wall as part of the North Roosevelt Boulevard reconstruction project was a done deal.

But behind-the-scenes negotiations and discussions have led to a surprise solution that will stave off what many feared was the semipermanent loss of a key island attribute.

For the complete article, please pick up a copy of The Citizen for this day or purchase this day's electronic edition at http://secure.floridakeys.com/keysnews/enews. Home Delivery & Electronic Edition subscibers to The Citizen may access this article, once logged in to keysnews.com, at no charge. If you forget your password, please call us at 305-292-7777, ext. 4.
Share your thoughts and opinions related to this posting. Login or register to post comments. More Info

Not taking "NO" for an answer!

Submitted on Wed, 06/27/2012 - 7:49am by none
When the road construction is long gone....you can thank Virginia Panico for saving the beautiful gulf view. Everyone else.....let FDOT dictate to them. Not her. She.....kept fighting it.....ALONE. The "closer"....was the City accepting the liability. WIthout her absolute diligence however......there is NO WAY that this would have happened. I can't believe it! Maybe there is still hope for Marco Island.....uh.....I mean......Key West....after all. Now...lets work on getting rid of all the concrete buildings!

WTH?

Submitted on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 2:23am by Bad Dog
All you freaks that want a perfect sterile community. That fence as one of the first steps in getting the gated community you all want so badly, where you can dictate what kind of cars are allowed and where they can park, bikes or no bikes and ban all those horrid boats that are parked within your perfect little kingdom. It would enable you to keep out anyone that doesn't agree with you and god forbid, a normal real world business that doesn't sell everything for $5! I would think you nut cases would be livid over this decision!

it would have been nice if

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 7:13pm by ezinthekeys
it would have been nice if they had told them to cut the construction time in half. there's no need for it to take so long. even if the so called bonus for finishing early is there if you all really believe it's only going to take the 27 months they say... you've been fooled. it will be more like 3 years... if we're lucky. pretty sad our officials didn't have the guts to even try to get the timeframe reduced. i have no doubt that a year from now we all will have had enough of it...

Good job by all involved

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 5:04pm by OldTownRes
I also want to commend Virginia and all involved in persuading FDOT to get rid of that ugly fence. That thing would have permanently ruined the Gulf view from North Roosevelt. One of the things I always enjoy about living here is driving on that street and taking in that unobstructed water view. One thing for us to feel good about as the real construction mess is about to begin...

Awesome !

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 4:50pm by dalton2kw
It sure feels good when things turn out the way they should !

THANK YOU, VIRGINIA!

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 1:27pm by *.* CLEARLY the original
Good job! We all appreciate it.

Not Really!

Submitted on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 7:22am by *.*
It's all in your pickled brain. Sorry! CLEARLY you are a FAKE.

Thank You Virginia!

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 9:34am by Michael Sullivan
The city should neme the new wall after you...great compromise!

Yay! Logic prevails! Thanks

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 7:40am by Tim
Yay! Logic prevails! Thanks and congrats to whoever was working on this behind the scenes.

Bravo

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 7:01am by
The proposed fence was never for safety anyway. The fence component was merely a way for someone to increase the cost of the project for monetary gain.

That fence is one of the

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 6:53am by david2009
That fence is one of the dumbest things ever proposed around here.

I hope this still leaves a

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 5:44am by 666
I hope this still leaves a reasonable amount of room for bikes and pedestrians. 24 inches is a good size piece of the bike path to give up for a curb. Wouldn't it have worked with a 12 inch curb?

Why bother? I see bicyclists every day who refuse to use the

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 1:26pm by *.* CLEARLY the original
bike path and are riding in traffic on the other side. These folks think that the laws do not apply to them.

Bicyclists

Submitted on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 8:26am by Kevv
have exactly the same legal right to use the roadways as any vehicle, and this is true even when there is a bike path nearby. You're the one who doesn't know the law. (Me personally, I always use the bike lane - but I have the right to the street if I want to use it.)

The good news is bike riders

Submitted on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 10:52pm by 666
The good news is bike riders foolish enough to play chicken with cars don't usually last that long. One of the nice things about natural selection.

Exactly. In their arrogance to 'get their piece of pavement',

Submitted on Sat, 06/23/2012 - 4:53pm by *.* CLEARLY the original
they will inevitably get what they desire, because the tonnage rule always applies.

I find the entire attitude of these bicyclists laughable. To me it's like an ant demanding that his rights are the same as that size 14 boot coming down the sidewalk towards him. Obviously common sense isn't something that bicyclists seem to buy into.

Tonnage rule = Sure the sailboat may have the right of way, but

Submitted on Sun, 06/24/2012 - 9:35am by Tina
Tonnage rule = Sure the sailboat may have the right of way, but it matters little when the container ship squashes it into oblivion.

According to the plans I've seen

Submitted on Thu, 06/21/2012 - 12:06pm by Kevv
the whole thing is supposed to be wider, with a nice wide path/sidewalk similar to the one out by the airport. I too salute Ms Panico and the lobbyists and whoever else helped force this compromise. When this town is united we can really get things done.

One good deed by Virginia doesn't negate

Submitted on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 9:03am by trapper
the rest of her self serving actions.
More Florida Keys Headlines
Vitas: New homeless shelter is priority
Friday, May 24, 2013
3 comments
Keys water usage has little impact on 'underwater river'
Friday, May 24, 2013
Group talks about closing spawning area
Thursday, May 23, 2013
2 comments
Judge: Issue power permits
Thursday, May 23, 2013
15 comments
County official says Key Largo gets more than it pays for
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Praise handed out to first responders
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Available Only in the Electronic Edition
DoD: Furloughs to begin in July
Friday, May 24, 2013 -
Lefere set to take School Board job
Thursday, May 23, 2013 -
Monroe seeks mainland shelter
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 -
Slain crocodile remembered with a beachside ceremony
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 -
Waterfront board OK's assisted-living project
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 -
City awaits big blue 65-gallon recycle carts
Monday, May 20, 2013 -