City of Rochester
News Release
(Monday, June 13, 2016) - Mayor Lovely A. Warren joined state and local leaders today to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Marina at the Port of Rochester.
“This beautiful new Marina at the Port of Rochester puts our city on the map of Great Lakes destinations and establishes a true Port of Opportunity at the meeting place of the Genesee River and Lake Ontario,” said Mayor Lovely A. Warren. “The idea to build a marina at this site was first proposed more than 50 years ago and, with the help of our partners at the state and federal levels, we have finally made it a reality. This marina will play a major role in our efforts to create more jobs, safer, more vibrant neighborhoods and better educational outcomes for our citizens.”
After two-and-a-half years of construction the Port of Rochester Marina is now open for boaters and the general public to enjoy. The state-of-the-art marina basin offers 54 seasonal boat slips and 30 transient slips with modern amenities including potable water, electricity, Wi-Fi, and pump-out facilities. Visitors can enjoy the new public promenade, benches, picnic tables, barbeque grills and park areas that surround the marina and connect to the Charlotte Pier and the Genesee River Trail System.
The $22 million project also features a new extension and connection of North River Street from Corrigan Street south to Latta Road, which provides additional on-street parking spaces and a new, alternative roadway connection to Ontario Beach Park. Improvements were made to the public boat launch docks and the parking lot. New transient boater broadside dockage was installed on the terminal dock wall.
Renovations of the Port of Rochester Terminal Link Building will be completed this summer to create a new boater services facility which will include showers, restrooms, a laundry, a boaters lounge and small ship store. The new construction at the terminal is expected to lure more cruise ships to the Port within the next few years.
In addition to the thriving businesses at the Port, two new restaurants will open this summer, creating an estimated 82 full- and part-time jobs. The Jetty at the Port, a casual restaurant with a Great Lakes nautical theme, will be open year-round. Mom’s Margio’s Diner will have a 1950s retro theme.
Funding sources for the Project included proceeds from the sale of the Hemlock and Canadice Lakes watershed to the State; Federal and State grants; and the City’s Capital Improvement Program.
The New York State Departments of State and Transportation; the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation; and the Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation in association with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, together provided almost $6 million in grant funding for the project. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and United States Army Corps of Engineers provided essential permitting and technical support for the project.
The Port of Rochester Marina is expected to lead to $3.25 million in direct and indirect economic activity each year and be an important amenity for the planned hotel and condominium development on North River Street proposed by Edgewater Resources.
Upon its final completion, the Port and its additions are expected to provide a significant stimulus to the Rochester economy, creating 2,500 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs.
Boaters interested in visiting the marina or leasing seasonal and transient slips should contact the City’s marina operator, SG Marina, for slip rates and leasing terms by calling 428-7432 or visiting www.portofrochestermarina.com/.
“The Marina at the Port of Rochester is a wonderful new addition to the Charlotte neighborhood, which will help us bolster the economic potential of our Lake Ontario waterfront,” said City Council President Loretta C. Scott. “This facility will spur a new level of development in this part of the city and create jobs for many years to come. The Rochester City Council is thrilled with the results of this project and excited by the many opportunities it will bring to Rochester.”
“Rochester’s waterways were the key to its role as an early American boom town, and the redevelopment of its port will be central to its future promise as well,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “The new marina will make Rochester a Great Lakes tourist destination and true gateway to this region while creating hundreds of new jobs. We are seeing the result of Governor Cuomo’s commitment to rebuilding the Upstate economy and moving the Finger Lakes forward.”
“The Department of State’s investment in this Marina has helped transform an underutilized waterfront into a regional destination providing recreational opportunities for both the local community and tourists alike,” said Acting Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. “This project provides an excellent example of how public investment can not only increase public access and enjoyment of the waterfront, but also spur private investment, create jobs and grow the economy.”
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said, “The opening of the new Marina, means the Port of Rochester is now ready to set sail. Boaters, residents, and visitors who will now come to use and enjoy the marina will support local businesses and restaurants and create a vibrant waterfront destination. I was pleased to help secure the final $1.45 million federal Boating Infrastructure Grant needed to construct the Marina as well as funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Port this summer. These investments, together with the opening of the Marina today, mean the Port of Rochester is in shipshape to serve Rochester for decades to come.”
“This is an exciting day for the Port of Rochester,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said. “This new state of the art Marina has set the foundation for economic growth, will attract new businesses and new jobs for middle-class families right here where we need it most. The Great Lakes are such an asset to the Rochester region and the federal investment here has created new transportation infrastructure that will transform the whole community. I will continue to fight for the resources we need for a growing economy, strong neighborhoods and a thriving middle class.”
Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle said, "This new marina is another step toward establishing the Port as first-class gateway to our waterfront and reenergizing the local businesses that serve so many people, especially in the summer months. My thanks to Governor Cuomo, the City of Rochester and our many community partners for making today possible. Through our continued collaboration we are renewing the Port of Rochester and the surround neighborhood’s spirit and purpose."
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.