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Board postpones decision on lease for famed Key West recording studio after public outcry and competing proposals
Summary
The Key West Bight Board heard public pleas to preserve the former Jimmy Buffett recording studio and reviewed competing letters of interest, including an unsolicited P3 proposal from the Spotswood family and a Shrimp Boat Sound proposal; the board postponed action to Dec. 10 and directed staff to facilitate discussions between proponents.
The Key West Bight Board on Monday heard more than a dozen public commenters urging the city to preserve the former Jimmy Buffett recording studio as an active recording and cultural site and voted to postpone action on competing lease proposals until its December meeting.
Gary Marrera, senior property manager, said the city received two letters of interest after publishing a notice: an unsolicited proposal submitted under the city’s new public‑private (P3) ordinance and a letter from Shrimp Boat Sound Key West LLC. Marrera said staff published the letter of interest notice to speed selection for a unique tenant and outlined the city’s path forward including potential RFPs or further P3 review.
Don Muncie, a long‑time resident, told the board the local arts community backed the Shrimp Boat proposal and asked that the studio be preserved “in as much of its original condition as possible.” Jay Somers, who described Jimmy Buffett’s studio as part of Key West’s legacy, said keeping the site in musical use would benefit community culture. Several other musicians and residents echoed those remarks.
Robert Spotswood, who described his family’s multi‑generation ties to Key West, said his unsolicited P3 proposal intended to honor the site’s history while creating revenue for the city. Spotswood urged the board to engage during the 90‑day review period the P3 ordinance contemplates and to allow dialogue between the two proponents.
Board members pressed staff and the two proposers on process questions: whether the Spotswood submission properly triggered the P3 review, whether the letter‑of‑interest route was procedurally sufficient, and whether the city had met its 90‑day obligation to respond. Several board members recommended the parties meet to try to find common ground and asked staff to clarify whether a formal RFP should be issued instead.
After discussion, the board voted to postpone the item to the next meeting (December 10) and directed staff to facilitate meetings between the proposers and provide the commission with options for how to proceed (P3 continuation, open RFP, or negotiated lease). The postponement preserves the board’s ability to vet both proposals and gather supplemental information from staff and the public before a decision.
What’s next: The board will revisit the lease item on Dec. 10, after staff reports back on the P3-status, recommended next steps for solicitation, and any outcomes of meetings between the two proposals’ representatives.
