|
|
|
New Slips in Seattle
by Jerry Sitser
Bell Harbor Marina brings visiting boaters straight to downtown
Print This Article
|
Email This Article
Finally -- there's a place for boaters who want to cruise to downtown Seattle, walk ashore and be at Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium and the Kingdome in just a few minutes. It's the newly opened Bell Harbor Marina.
This new guest-only marina is part of the Bell Street Pier project, the Port of Seattle's ambitious redevelopment of Pier 66 along 11 acres of Seattle waterfront.
Along with the marina, visiting boaters will find a chandlery and a deli -- and additional soon-to-open businesses here will include an Anthony's HomePort restaurant, a seafood market, commercial fishing businesses, a cruise ship terminal, a conference center and the Odyssey Maritime Museum.
Pedestrian bridges now connect the Bell Street Pier project to downtown Seattle, from which the waterfront has been largely separated since the construction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The Lenora Street Bridge leads to the waterfront from Pike Place Market; and the Bell Street Bridge leads directly to a rooftop observation deck with seating and telescopes.
Project Offers Water Access -- and Slips
The idea for Bell Street Pier was hatched back in 1994, when the Port of Seattle moved its offices from this site to a brand-new building on Pier 69. Construction on the new Bell Street Pier began that summer.
Abundant public access to the waterfront is provided in the Bell Street Pier project. Along with the bridges and rooftop deck, there is a public plaza and an area of waterfront access next to the commercial loading areas.
The maritime museum and conference center will also be part of the project's public areas, along with the cruise ship terminal. In addition, a fish processing facility shared by Oceantrawl of Seattle and Elliott Bay Seafood will be open to public viewing at the pier -- and it will include a retail store offering fresh seafood.
Still, most boaters are mainly interested in the pier's new short-stay marina. It is the only such moorage of its type on the city waterfront, except for Seattle's small Washington Street Moorage south of the ferry terminal.
"It's amazing how many phone calls we've been getting from boaters, asking us when the marina was going to open," said Michael Popiwny, project manager for the waterside part of Bell Street Pier.
Marla Kleiven, a general manager for the port's waterfront district, also said the port "has been getting flooded with calls from boaters about the project." She pointed out that the port consulted a public advisory board in designing the facility.
The marina is protected from the choppy waters of Elliott Bay by a "wave barrier" wall that descends 30 feet -- and the water depth is 40 to 45 feet near the entrance.
Sturdy concrete floats and pilings are hallmarks of the facility, which offers slips 30 feet and larger and a total estimated berthing capacity of 96 small boats.
Boaters are allowed to stay at the marina for a maximum of 72 hours. Slip fees were not yet available at press time, but they were expected to include both daily and hourly rates.
"They will be competitive with regional rates for a first-class facility," said Melinda Miller, facilities manager for the port.
Marina amenities include electricity (30 and 50 amp), water, a stationary pumpout, restrooms, showers, garbage collection and recycling service, telephone and bulletin boards. The harbormaster's office, staffed 24 hours a day, is next to a fish-shaped fountain and children's play area.
Another prominent piece of artwork, a metal light tower, marks the entrance to the marina. Still more art on the pier includes a stone and glass tile mosaic and a sculpture from Seattle's sister city of Kobe, Japan that had been residing at Fishermen's Terminal, inside the Ballard Locks.
Marine Businesses -- and More
Adjacent businesses are expected to add convenience for boaters visiting the pier project, in addition to the commercial fishermen who will share the facility.
The project's 4,000 square foot Polare Chandlery is operated by Seattle Ship Supply, a commercial boat supplier at Fishermen's Terminal. Along with fishing-oriented gear, it also stocks recreational boating supplies, parts and safety equipment.
Seattle Ship Supply also operates the pier project's Highliner Deli. The 2,000 square foot store stocks perishables, hot and cold foods, small boat provisions and produce.
One unusual aspect of the marina is the port's effort to integrate tribal fishermen with the general boating population.
Muckleshoot and Suquamish Indian tribe members, who fish in Elliott Bay, are being allotted free moorage and net repair space here during their commercial season. Also, a computer touch-screen display and handout cards will inform visitors about the fishing traditions of the tribes.
Migrating salmon have not been left out of the picture, either. Their shoreside access has been preserved by moving all the public and commercial docks away from the shore to create a passage, while also letting light fall onto the water.
Bell Harbor Marina's appearance at street level is modern -- however, from the water, the main building resembles old-time waterfront structures, with corrugated walls and angled rooflines. The dark green, orange and blue colors of the facility help it blend into its surroundings well, as they simulate the hues of marine cargo containers.
The Port of Seattle financed nearly all of the waterside project, including the bridges, at a total cost of about $84 million. The marina was jointly financed by the port, the city and the state Department of Natural Resources, which manages the tidelands over which the pier sits.
About $10 million was spent on the marina alone; and part of the port's input into the marina was a state grant of $1.2 million.
All income generated by the marina will be directed into the marina's own operating and maintenance costs, Popiwny said. So, boaters who visit the new facility will play a big part in its success.
One of the first major pleasureboating events scheduled for the new marina is the Superyacht Northwest exhibition of large custom yachts, set for September 11-14, and many more are certain to follow in months ahead.
Seattle's newest marina seems destined to become very popular -- very quickly.
|
This article first appeared in the July 1, 1996 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
|
|
|
|
