Tomorrow most people on this list will read about possible options for a Marina outside the new Park Board Headquarters.
At this moment my vote is still unclear as I have the following concerns:
1. Nothing is for free. Even if Irwin Jacobs does it all what is the "hitch?" or ties?
The usual- we could end up with it if the developer abandons it.
2. Environmental assessment of the impacts of that activity on the River is necessary.
We have spent years trying to clean up the river so what will this activity do to it?
The impact would be miniscule- we already have towboats and barges working our river.
3. Will "jet skis" be allowed off the boats? They are extremely "rude" to the environment.
The river here being a navigable waterway, the Corp of Engineers decides what may cruise the river there, and we have no city authority to pick and choose what kind of watercraft is allowed on the river.The personal watercraft's environmental impact is insignificant- their motors are tiny compared to even a small towboats 3000 horsepower or so V-16s. This is mostly a NIMBY issue with the personal watercrafts unusual sound, and we have few NIMBYs on the Northside and none along the river.
4. Even though I like the idea of a marina and support it in concept. I just wonder if it is the right time and the right place?
We've needed something like this for years- take a look at how many boats are parked in Northside backyards! We shouldn't have to tow to the suburbs to enjoy boating and fishing.
5. Is there something to learn from St. Paul?
It'd be great to have a riverboat community like St.Paul. BTW, if someone really wants to thumb there nose at city regulation there's nothing to stop them from building a house atop a barge and setting up housekeeping on the riverside... Also if someone has a nice two story house in one of our crime ridden neighborhoods, if you can find a route to the water there's plenty of clearance under the bridges to allow house moving by barge to a better neighborhood.
6. What about the infrastructure that goes with boats? Winter slips? Repair shops, fueling stations. And if there is food and dining connected I just have a hard time imagining all that on around this "little" piece of land in front of our building
We already have similar uses on the riverfront- remember, this is a working river, not a wild and scenic one. BTW, there's a lot more land along the river besides what can be seen from the Park Boards new digs. Also, have you noticed the railroad tracks behind the building? They're on city land, in the right of way of North 1st Street. The ones closest to the park building haven't been used in years, so I think we can consider them abandoned and add that trackage to our municipal railroad. How about allowing the parking of classic railroad passenger cars there, sort of like a marina for these restored rolling mansions of the rails? And while we're at it, why not reestablish the Camden AutoCamp, a campground on the riverfront from the Soo Line bridge north?
standing up for the Northside's parks in Hawthorne,
Dyna Sluyter
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