During the two hour meeting at the Seafarers' Memorial Park, roughly 40 attendees were shown several conceptual designs for the are along the west and north sides of the marina. The options (download designs) included:
Option 1. Modest Improvements. This plan included new buildings on Port property on Ninth St, east of Q Ave, an improved and landscaped RV park on the north end, and an expanded esplanade along the west and north edges of the marina.
Option 2. Launching the curve. Includes an expanded esplanade all the way to the pavilion at Cap Sante, a plaza and mixed-use building where Ninth St meets the marina, some small shops along the north esplanade, and a boat launch ramp.
Option 3. Rails to trails & sails (these are their names). Includes a large event space above ground level parking on the north end of the marina, an expanded esplanade, closure of Market St. and Ninth to vehicle traffic and expanded civic space along along Market St, with a few shops and restaurants between Ninth and the Event Center.
Option 4. Reknit to downtown. This plan would feature a large civic space along R Ave from Ninth to Sixth and behind the depot, with a small boat center on the north end of the marina, and small shops and restaurants along the west side of the marina. This would also feature direct vehicle access to the marina from all sides.
The meeting attendees liked options two and three, but didn't like some of the features of those plans. They voted that an event center should not be located along the west or north side of the marina, largely because of traffic issues. There was a suggestion to have an event center should be near the south end of the marina.
The Port and consulting team, Makers Architecture, has scheduled another meeting for 10 am, Saturday, March 2 at the Seafarers' Memorial Park building.