Opinion
By Bob Allison, 4-9-24
(Editor’s note: This is a response to Commissioner Chip Ross’ article: “Subsidizing a Marina“)
The number of errors made in the reconfiguration and reconstruction of the Fernandina Beach city marina following the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew are not without horrendous financial consequences. When you combine City decision makers with no knowledge of marinas with unqualified consultants simply milking the City for fees, the outcome was completely predictable. I offered the City a viable plan back in 2017, titled Common Sense Approach to the Redevelopment of the Fernandina Beach Historic Waterfront. Specific recommendations were made in the report that would solve the dredging problem and its cost. It provided the City the waterfront park citizens have been clamoring about for decades and changed the City-owned waterfront from a black hole swallowing millions into a self supporting project which would generate enough cash to actually reduce the heavy burden on City taxpayers. My plan was never discussed at any City meeting.
It took great vision for me to imagine and then work for four years to put Fernandina Harbor Marina at the foot of Centre Street. It was an extraordinary personal test of selfless public leadership. When construction of the marina was complete, I was shocked by the greed that surfaced from all corners and as a result made the decision to move on to other projects and opportunities. What I left behind was a vacuum of vision and leadership.
I have not been surprised to see that more than forty years later nothing of any consequence has been built or improved on the City’s waterfront since my exit. You can read my report provided to the City at: Click to read Mr. Allison’s downloadable, printable PDF COMMON SENSE WATERFRONT PLAN.
But, unfortunately for the City’s taxpayers, their government is without the vision or the leadership for such a grand plan to ever be realized
Previous relevant articles by Mr. Allison:
Father of Fernandina Harbor Marina Emphasizes Its Importance; Provides Criticism and Advice on Moving Forward With It
January 12, 2023
Opinion By Bob Allison, January, 2023 Not everyone understands how important Fernandina Harbor Marina is to the world’s yachting community. The Saint Mary’s River offers the safest channel on…
FB Marina: Why Do I Care?
February 17, 2023
Opinion By Bob Allison, 2-13-23 Perhaps you are paying attention to the lively discussion in local media surrounding the future of the City’s waterfront. Some at…
Wetland or Mudbank? … You Decide.
February 1, 2023
Opinion By Bob Allison, 2-1-23 City Citizens who have read the Waterfront Plan I provided to the City b
Fernandina City Marina: A Fairway Wide Enough for Ships to Pass
February 8, 2023
Opinion By Bob Allison, 2-8-23 Research the definition of the word “fairway”. You will find two definitions. One is “the part of a golf course between…
Father of FB City Marina’s Ideas on a Waterfront Park
March 26, 2023
Opinion By Bob Allison, 3-25-23 (above) From my 2017 Report….new boat ramp location in yellow… proposed new bulkhead location in green creating enough new land for…
City Marina: City Hall Buys the Wrong Study
March 12, 2023
Opinion By Bob Allison, 3-11-23 Buying expensive studies is what City Hall does to give the appearance it is actually doing something to improve the City’s…
Bob Allison, a resident of Fernandina Beach, is the father of the FB City Marina
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
