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Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 9 Comments
BSL moves forward with marina project
By ANITA LEE - calee@sunherald.com
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The city of Bay St. Louis is moving forward with construction of an $18.3 million marina and parking lot on the bay downtown.
The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a grant agreement that clears the way for final design and construction of the 165-slip marina and amenities that will include a fishing pier, comfort station, fuel dock and floating stage. It will sit between Demontluzin Street and the railroad bridge. Most of the funding will come from the federal government.
“The project was promoted as an economic catalyst to bring life back downtown,' said Buzz Olsen, the city’s director of economic and community development.
STORY: Harbor funding
years after Hurricane Katrina.
A volunteer committee has worked for several years on the project. Lee Seal, who serves on the committee, believes the marina will bring back tourists to a downtown still struggling more than five
He said only about 10 percent of downtown has come back, with property owners waiting to see how businesses will fare. “It’s hard to come back piece by piece," he said.
Before Katrina, specialty shops and restaurants drew crowds. Second-home residents, particularly from New Orleans, were a big part of the community.
Seal and other downtown supporters believe the marina will give investors incentive to bet once again on downtown. He said it is the Bay’s biggest economic development project since Casino Magic, now Hollywood Casino, which opened in 1992.
The marina has had its detractors, although most public comments were positive at Thursday's packed council meeting. Councilman Bill Taylor read a letter from resident Ryan LaFontaine, who said he was against the project. He pointed out that Bay St. Louis is still without a grocery store, the Cedar Point area “is in shambles” and building construction needs oversight.
LaFontaine, who works as the city of Gulfport’s spokesman, said Gulfport is building a harbor almost three times larger than the one in Bay St. Louis at about the same cost.
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