PRESS EDITORIAL: The time is right to recover the public’s lakefront lot

That has to be the explanation for the amazing numbers of visitors in June to the city and its four parks that touch the shore of Lake Michigan in a row of natural and manmade jewels that might be compared to pearls on a necklace.

There is a message in this for elected city officials: They need to reclaim for the public a lakefront place that was squandered by a previous administration—the open space bordering the north slip of the downtown marina

The flow of visitors, from as near as Port neighborhoods and as far as Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan and beyond, is surely energized by the desire to find ways to enjoy the warm season when usual summer attractions like baseball, amusement parks and themed events are not available.

But more than that, it is an affirmation of the appeal of a seaport town that provides extraordinary public access to its maritime environment with lakeside parks, a marina in the very heart of the city and a harbor walk connecting them all.

The investment in these public amenities is repaid many times over by the commercial activity it generates in the business district, which is dramatically evident at this moment when downtown Port Washington sidewalks and streets have been as crowded as at peak times in normal years, and stores and restaurants seem to be making a faster recovery from the pandemic recession than expected.

That space next to the north slip marina has offered a graphic measure in recent weeks of the visitor appeal of the lakefront. It has been chockablock with vehicles, often with all of its 45 parking spaces filled. A preferred spot for visitors to start their appreciation of all the city has to offer, it is more than a convenient place to leave the car and unload strollers and bikes. It is an introduction to the views of the harbor and its boating activity and the magnificent inland sea to the east unobstructed by vista-blocking buildings.

The north slip lot is a valuable city asset, yet is not owned by city. It belongs to a private owner. The owner, to his credit, allows it to be used for public parking, but if he wanted to he could barricade it or charge a fee for parking there. He could also fill it with a building that would shut off the lake views.

This absurd situation is the result of a development mistake that will be long remembered as the unfortunate legacy of a misguided past mayor and Common Council. Returning the land to the public with city ownership should become the admirable legacy of the officials now privileged to be in those positions.

The lot was owned for generations by taxpayers before it was targeted for development in a half-baked decision made without the benefit of well informed planning. Deaf to the strong public opposition to building on the land, officials tried to market it as a site for a brewpub and then as something called a “destination shopping experience,” but found no takers.

Then came a blues music aficionado with a plan to build a music entertainment facility called the Blues Factory. When that failed for lack of investors and bank financing, the council approved the sale of the property to local developer Gertjan van den Broek.

The deal was made two and one-half years ago, yet development plans, vague to begin with, remain a mystery. Yet the delay, which demonstrates again that there is scant commercial demand for development of the lot, is fortunate.

The pause is an opportunity for the city to renegotiate the developer’s agreement, refund the $250,000 purchase price and reacquire the land to give back to the public.

The city should offer support for other developments the owner of the site could undertake. For his part, van den Broek would earn lasting respect as a real estate investor who advertises that he founded the company called Renew Port Holdings “in the belief that the people who live and work in our community should own our community” by cooperating in the return of lakefront land that rightfully belongs to the public.

Millions of dollars worth of projects are queued up for the marina district. Port Washington does not need to sacrifice the north slip lot for another commercial development.

That special piece of land is more valuable as a public place, which should be landscaped to provide attractive spaces for water viewing, while retaining most of its parking capacity, which is obviously much needed.

The Common Council should act now to make that happen. History will reward it.