Port of Seattle buys Salmon Bay Marina

The Port of Seattle has purchased Salmon Bay Marina, a privately-owned operation on five acres just to the west of Fishermen’s Terminal. The price: $15.6 million.

The Port said it bought the marina to protect maritime industrial land and support the growth of Fishermen’s Terminal. The Port has set a goal to double the size of the “commercial fishing business cluster” at Fishermen’s Terminal (you can see the Port’s plans here).

With five docks that support 166 slips, Salmon Bay Marina has been privately owned by the Draper family for 72 years. With the change to public ownership, the Port plans to remove houseboats but continue to serve other boats moored at the facility. The Port is also exploring the potential for “light industrial facilities that could support maritime and manufacturing companies in the area.”

“Salmon Bay Marina is a valuable waterfront property perfectly suited for continued maritime use,” said Eugene Wasserman, President of the North Seattle Industrial Association, in the Port’s press release. “I thank the Port of Seattle for preserving this industrial property that will provide jobs and tax revenue throughout our region.”

A study found commercial fishing activity at Fishermen’s Terminal generates $450 million in business revenue and nearly $40 million in state and local taxes every year, according to the Port of Seattle. The Port says it plans to take over operations at Salmon Bay Marina when the deal closes in 45 to 180 days.

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5 thoughts to “Port of Seattle buys Salmon Bay Marina”

  1. Oh no! Now they will tear down Chinook’s and anything else the general public uses. The Port of Seattle is the enemy to the average resident of Seattle. Remember what happened at Shilshole. It was taken away from the middle class and now only used by the rich elite.

  2. More reasons to abandon the Light Rail link bridge and support a spur from the University District train.

    With the port expanding Fisherman’s Terminal (as it should) why try to build a bridge through that area. Just extend the current line to Ballard.

  3. Ballardite, that makes sense, as UW is one of the largest employers, and many people living in Ballard would benefit at least as much from that alignment as a straight shot downtown along 15th. I’ll bet the main reason for the route through Interbay is that all that land along 15th that is currently occupied by the golf driving range or small businesses and the first couple of blocks of existing homes along the bottom of Queen Anne Hill is fated to be redeveloped into a mile-long condo canyon. Expect pretty much all of 15th Ave between Whole Foods and the Emerson/Nickerson junction to be lined with 80 foot tall buildings in 20 years.

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