‘A place to fish again’ - Group pushes for new pier on the Amelia River
The city's Waterfront Advisory Board wants a concrete fishing pier to be included in the revised harbor master plan to be located at the vacant city parcel at 101 N. Front St.
Board member Allen Mills suggested the pier be concrete. “If you made it out of concrete, it could also be a storm breaker too when it's high tide. It could break a lot of the waves for the marina. So, it could be a multiple use.”
City planning staff confirmed the use is permissible.
Board liaison Jacob Platt said, “Piers and docks and wharves are permissible in the land use and zoning. So it is a permissible use.”
Member David Cook added, “I don't think it would be a pushback because I think the city has the submerged lands underneath where that old building was.”
Downtown Manager Lisa Finkelstein explained the condition of the property: “The current plan is really to just have it be a passive, clean it up a bit. We're working on permanent (parking) bollards … and then cleaning it up, encircling the utilities that are there with some curbing to protect them … and then really waiting to see what the outcome is for the (flood protection) seawall. And that'll determine then the future use.”
She added, “A pier has been suggested before. So, I think this group recommending it and being, you know, that it's unanimous. Everybody's in favor of that. We keep that in the forefront as we go forward with the master plan.”
Platt noted the pier discussion will tie into broader waterfront planning. “As we roll out the Harbor Master Plan at the end of this year, beginning and next, working through that, that's going to be a component just as much as the seawall in that discussion.”
While no formal pricing was discussed, 2025 marine construction benchmarks suggest a 30-foot concrete pier at 101 North Front St. could cost:
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$60,000–$90,000 for a basic narrow pier with minimal features,
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$90,000–$150,000 for a wider deck and municipal-grade finish,
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$150,000–$250,000+ if deeper pilings, more robust utilities, or difficult site conditions are required.
These figures account for piles, concrete decking, railings, scour protection, site mobilization, and engineering.
Schaffer said, “I think that would be wonderful. I know a lot of kids would like to do that.”
Member Mike Sharp agreed: “Well, there's no place to fish for kids or anybody, really … The marina's got signs, again, that says no fishing. So, it'd be nice to have something for the water-based community around the water.”
Comments
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Mark Tomes
Somewhere to fish would be nice, but a "hard" structure like a concrete pier tends to create more erosion in the long run. A living shoreline (reeds and sedges, grasses, oyster beds, mangroves, etc.) is more resilient, reduces pollution, builds up material to absorb storm surges, attracts more wildlife, and is more pleasing to look at. I am not sure what the solution might be, perhaps a floating pier?
Thursday, September 25 Report this
GDecker
I agree with Mr. Tomes, maintaining a living shoreline is the priority, not creation of more permanent un-natural structures requiring maintenance. A floating pier would work if affordable.
Thursday, September 25 Report this
JoeW
Add a parking meter every six feet.
Friday, September 26 Report this
BobReisner
How about a simple new rule for downtown improvements.
Anything new is an equally shared expense of the four downtown stakeholders. The city, the county, the tourism funds, and the downtown merchants/property owners. 25% from each. Let the group approve the specific plan, select the contractor and select the person/organization to manage the project.
Direct expenses for long term maintenance should also have this rule applied.
And if this group can't agree to do the project and to fund the project, then the project doesn't need to happen.
We need to get away from unelected groups developing ideas (even good ones) that cost city residents money but don't have a mechanism that demonstrates wide community support. And for downtown, community is more than city taxpayers. The free ride for 75% of this community has to stop.
Friday, September 26 Report this