Key West and Marathon Take On Housing
Key West holds an Affordable Housing Town Hall on Oct. 28, and Marathon pursues 100 workforce housing building rights. Here's why it matters.
By Kate Baldwin · · 4 min read
Housing is front and center in both Key West and Marathon right now. Here's what's happening and why it matters to anyone who lives here or owns property here.
Key West
Housing Is Back in the Spotlight
Housing isn't just a development issue in Key West. It affects who can live here, work here and keep the island running.
Key West Mayor Sam Kaufman is holding an Affordable Housing Town Hall on Wednesday, October 28, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at 1300 White Street.
According to the City of Key West, the discussion is expected to include:
- Existing affordable and workforce housing programs
- Rental and homeownership assistance
- Housing availability and eligibility
- Preserving existing affordable housing
- Creating new housing opportunities
- The City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund
- Partnerships between the City, Housing Authority, nonprofits and private property owners
- Key West's Housing Needs Assessment and Housing Action Plan
This matters far beyond people actively looking for affordable housing.
Why housing supply affects the entire Key West market: Housing influences whether teachers, restaurant workers, first responders, hospitality employees, tradespeople and other members of the local workforce can remain in the community. It also affects employers, rental demand, development decisions and the long-term character of Key West.
For property owners, it is worth paying attention whenever the City discusses how housing may be preserved, funded or created.
Affordable housing in Key West is not a side issue. It is connected to almost everything that makes this community function.
There is no single policy that solves it, which is why I think these conversations are important to follow, especially when they move from general discussion into actual programs, funding and development decisions.
Marathon
100 More Building Rights Are on the Table
The Marathon City Council voted on October 13 to pursue the transfer of 100 early-evacuation workforce housing building rights from Key Colony Beach and Layton.
These are part of the housing allocations originally awarded to the Keys after Hurricane Irma.
The proposed rights have significant restrictions. They are intended for multifamily housing, and occupants would be required to evacuate when a tourist evacuation is ordered during a storm.
The larger debate now is over how Marathon should allow those rights to be used. Council members have expressed concerns about speculative development and large clustered projects that might technically qualify as workforce housing without solving the housing problems the city is trying to address.
Marathon's City Council is scheduled to meet in a workshop at 5:30 p.m. on October 27. Keys Weekly reported that staff planned to bring an early draft of restrictions for the proposed workforce-housing rights to that session. Because this article was prepared before the workshop, we'll be watching for what comes next rather than assuming an outcome.
What Marathon's market looks like right now: My FlexMLS market summary for Marathon residential shows 26 sales in September 2026, up from 12 in September 2025, and 190 active listings, down from 218. With so few sales in a single month, percentage changes can look dramatic, so I would not read too much into any one month. It is useful context, though, as the city debates how much new housing to allow.
A second Marathon housing project is already moving ahead: At the October 13 meeting, the council also approved the use of 12 building rights for six affordable duplexes associated with Keys Health + Housing's Hope Project. That project is designed to provide affordable rentals and supportive housing for women and women with children.
Why this matters to property owners: Building rights are one of the reasons vacant land in the Florida Keys is unlike vacant land in most of the country. Owning a parcel does not necessarily mean you can immediately build a house on it. Allocation systems, zoning, environmental restrictions, flood requirements and other development rules can all affect what is possible.
This story is part of my weekly roundup, Florida Keys Real Estate This Week: October 27, 2026.
FAQ
What are building rights in the Florida Keys?
Because development is tightly regulated throughout the Keys, ownership of a parcel does not always provide an immediate right to construct a home. Depending on the jurisdiction and property, allocation systems, zoning, environmental rules and other restrictions may affect development.
Sources
- FlexMLS Market Summary: Marathon residential, September 2026
- City of Key West: Mayor's Affordable Housing Town Hall Public Meeting
- Keys Weekly: Marathon City Council pursues extra building rights from KCB & Layton, with strings attached (October 15, 2026)
Source: FlexMLS / MLS data. Reports prepared by Kate Baldwin on October 27, 2026. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Questions about life or property in the Keys?
Call or text 305.240.7828, or ask me anything.
General information only, not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice. Market data is from the sources listed and covers the periods stated.
