05/21/2015
It's a bittersweet end for Port Messick Marina.
Earlier this week, the grant for constructing the breakwater was approved. The City now has the funds necessary to press forward with construction of the breakwater that was approved last year.
As many of you know, I spent considerable time, energy, and money towards improving or obtaining approvals to improve the little bathroom parcel next to the boat ramp and obtaining approvals and funding for a breakwater to protect the City Pier and Front Cove harbor where many waterwen work and park their boats at poles overnight.
Port Messick Marina's lease of the bathroom parcel expires on June 30, 2015. The goal for Port Messick Marina has been to purchase from the City the bathroom parcel prior to the deadline for building a Grill that was approved for construction last summer. Unfortunately, the banks are not interested in lending, without a huge downpayment, to a marina that has little to no slip rental income necessary to offset costs of other improvements such as a risky seasonal restaurant. Since the breakwater will not be built until late summer or early Fall, the slip rental income will not mature prior to the deadline. The City has decided not to renew my lease or to extend the deadline. And, I cannot afford to continue losing money on a seasonal venue without sufficient slip rental income to offset the costs.
Therefore, Port Messick Marina will be vacating the blue marina store on the bathroom parcel some time after the Memorial Day weekend and prior to the June 30th deadline so that the City may proceed with other plans for the property.
It has been my dream that the approved Grill building would be built, to serve as a community center, as a rental facility for weddings and reunions, and as a summer day camp to teach the next generation the ways of the waterman. It now seems doubtful that this dream will come true.
It has also been my dream that VIMS would accept my offer to help with blue crab studies in Back River to help improve the blue crab stock for the next generation of watermen. This dream came true. After two years of convincing VIMS that such a study was needed, VIMS will start next week a long-term blue crab research study on female spawning and habitation in Back River. I hope that this research will proceed as planned and result in a successful restocking program for the watermen.
I have done all that I can for now at Messick Point.
In closing, I would like to wish the City of Poquoson the very best in pressing forward to improve Messick Point, giving it the attention that our wonderful community deserves.
