The City Dock revitalization project in Annapolis continues to draw questions nearly a year after the first community forum was held.
At an event at the William Paca House garden held by the nonprofit Historic Annapolis Wednesday evening, dozens of people from Ward 1 gathered to voice their concerns.
The proposed Maritime Welcome Center, part of the revitalization project, drew the most comments followed by City Dock Park and plans to shore up the city’s resiliency efforts. Renderings of the most recent concept plan for the center, which would replace the harbormaster’s office on Dock Street, were on view.
Many questioned the center’s size and the Waterman’s Co-op, where those working the water could sell their goods, coming to the building. Others asked about the cost of maintenance or opposed watermen potentially selling seafood from the center.
Other topics drawing scrutiny included the planned fountain, pergola and stage and the pending $33 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Previous feedback from the public led the developers to return to the council with a smaller concept for the welcome center but a higher price tag of $10 million, a $3 million increase from its initial estimate.
Laurie Sullivan, a resident, is concerned about maintaining the view of the bay from Ego Alley.
“We’re trying to do a lot of things in one building, which then necessitates a bigger building,” she said of the center. “Do we have to have all of those functions in one single space, or is it possible to break those functions up into alternate spaces, smaller spaces on the periphery, or even into existing buildings?”
As proposed, the welcome center will be attached to the rear of the Capt. William H. Burtis House, a historic waterman’s house dating to the 1880s. The first floor would include space for an outdoor maritime classroom with public water access for small watercraft, a Waterman’s Co-op where watermen could sell their catch, and a lounge. Showers, washing machines and dryers, public restrooms and private storage space would be in the basement.
Ron Gunzburger, a candidate for Ward 1 alderman in 2025, questioned who the tenants of the center will be. He asked if Visit Annapolis, a tourism nonprofit that would be on the center’s first floor, is the correct tenant to occupy the space.
Next Historic Annapolis will submit the night’s comments and questions to the city for answers, said Rachel Robinson, vice president of preservation at Historic Annapolis.
“I want to build something beautiful for locals, and I have a history of doing that,” said Mayor Gavin Buckley, a Ward 1 resident.
