Marina, Fuel Dock, Restaurant Could Return to 10th and the Bay
The former Dan's Dockside Marina is under contract with new buyers.
Photos
City Council approved a resolution Thursday declaring abandoned lots on the bay near 10th Street as an "area in need of rehabilitation."
The vote was described by attorney Keith Davis as "the first step in the process" of redeveloping the lots most recently occupied by Dan's Dockside Marina and Seafood Restaurant on the 900 block of Palen Avenue.
The property is now bank-owned, but a corporation operated by Tom and Patrick Gill is the contract purchaser, according to Davis. The Gills own the Tackle Direct shop in Ocean City.
Patrick Gill said that Ocean City, which was once home to 11 marinas, currently has no fueling station for boats. He said he hopes to make the property a working marina with a fuel dock and transient slips. The property would also include a restaurant.
Gill said he's a third-generation Ocean City resident whose family has been involved in marinas for 51 years. The family owned half of the property from 1979 to 2001.
"It's an opportunity to give something back to Ocean City," Gill said.
The property includes six underground fuel tanks that may be leaking.
"We're prepared to immediately rectify that," Gill said.
The resolution calls for referring the project to the Ocean City Planning Board, which would be a step toward creating a more detailed development plan.
There was no mention on Thursday of what, if any, role Ocean City would have in that development plan.
Marlin Magnet
7:09 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Thats a terriffic development and congratulations to Tom & Pat. If anyone knows how to do it right, it's the Gill family. Hopeully they get all the support they need from the local and state Govt so this can be done soon.
Tom Tumelty
10:38 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Agree.
Eric Sauder
8:26 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Hey as a taxpayer I already bought into one marina. I lost my shirt. I now know what "public / private partnership" means. It mean the tax payer puts up the money and the private gets the return.
Gordon Araujo
10:39 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
as a resident of Palen ave living with the mess of the street and the eyesore and unsafe conditions of the marina,applaud Tom & Patrick in hopes they get the job done and I no longer will feel we have been forgotten about by our city and someone is trying to bring things back as they were when I first bought here,and we are no longer in a war zone.
Gsieri Builders
11:24 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
We support the Gill's on this project. Glad to see our neighbors taking on this project they are the right people to pull it off.
Carla Migliaccio
1:58 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
We couldn't be happier to hear such wonderful news. Also Palen Avenue residents, it has been so sad to watch this once thriving property, decay and literally fall into the bay. We wish the Gills much luck and Godspeed in thier efforts to restore this property. What an improvement not only to our neighborhood, but the town as well.
Tom Tumelty
10:40 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Your're right Carla!
Michele Iannace
5:03 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Much Luck to the Gill Family...Tom & Pat its like...."Welcome Home"
Eric Sauder
10:08 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Fine. If the Gill family can swing it more power to them. It would be good for City to have that part of town redeveloped, although I would like to see it stay in commercial. I just don't want to invest in it as a taxpayer without any return to the taxpayer. Time will tell how it all plays out.
Eric Sauder
10:10 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
As of now it seems there will be taxpayer involvement preparing the site for redevelopment.
Margie Compagnola
12:32 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Wishing the Gills much luck in their venture! Many memories there neighbors, would be wonderful to dine once again by the water.
My very best Tom and Patrick!
Jack Ball
8:25 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
As a new resident to this area I would ask Mr. Sauder to take a walk in our shoes. I can show him the pictures of # 2 fuel oil laying in the street, or the pictures of a normal high tide that almost covers the fire hydrant. That only happened 4 times this week alone! I was also at the meeting Thursday night and didn't hear the City commit to spending a dime. This property is a mess, and it can't happen fast enough to make me happy.
Eric Sauder
9:06 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Thanks and I wasn't aware of the oil seepage. I'm just saying that if the City spends tax payer dollars on remediation it should be charged back to the property owner, or a lien be placed on the property to be satisfied by any new owner. Who owns it now I'm not sure. Apparently it was owned by the bank. The point is that the cost of remediation is a cost of ownership. Or if dreeveloped a cost of development To handle it any other way is to publically subsidize whoever owns or buys it (in either case a private entity.) I don't know if you're aware of what happened with the marina on the north side of town but I'm still upset over that.
Eric Sauder
9:15 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Here's an analogy. My sewer backed up between the house and the hook up at the street (alley.) It could be said that it was a public health hazard, and that the City should step in and fix it. That all works fine for me, because eventhough I own the property, I won't have to go to the expense of having the work done. No the City didn't commit a dime, YET. But I've seen how it worked in similar cases. I'll tell ou about the marina on the north end if you want to know the story.
Eric Sauder
9:20 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Certainly it is the responsibility of the City to repair the bulkhead.
Eric Sauder
9:28 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
To tell you the truth I'd love to see a restaurant and marina there. I'm just hoping that's what becomes of it.
Eric Sauder
12:45 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
As a taxpayer I just don't want to foot the cost for it.
Janice Harris
10:36 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
My time goes way back to when Chris'swas there & I think the Northstar fishing boat docked there. A lot of memories. Would love to see a thrieving fishing/seafood business there again. Good luck.
Eric Sauder
10:45 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
I remember too and i'd like to see something similar there. I wonder what happened to those old PT boats.
Mary Barrus
1:32 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
The North Star is at 3rd & Bay!! =]