Photo courtesy of Seattle Times Greg Gilbert
The city-owned Leschi marina is deteriorating and boat owners are wondering what the city did with the moorage fees that were collected each month. Decking is rotted, the outermost deck is sinking and the underwater flotation has broken away. Tenants of the marina say that for 30 years the city collected moorage fees that should have been used to maintain the marina but instead were diverted to other uses in the Parks and Recreational system. Money was used to keep doors open to community centers, to maintain parks, and to continue low-income families’ participation in sports and recreation which was said to be more important than maintaining the marina. $8 million is needed to make the necessary repairs. Mayor Mike McGinn has agreed to add $4 million to the budget to go specifically towards repairing the marina. The city had been searching for a private operator to take over the moorage before McGinn stopped the search after boat owners expressed concern of possible higher fees and commercialization of the property. Tenants were also angry at the fact that they were left out of the planning process of the North and South Leschi marinas. The city has agreed to create two Project Advisory teams which will include community members to be sure they have a say in what happens with the marina.
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