WILMINGTON — The city maintains three public docks along the Cape Fear River, but there has been more than one party in recent months interested in privatizing them.
Wilmington’s city docks include three locations – the Market Street landing, Coastline Convention Center, and Hilton floating docks – that make up about 800 feet of space. The city currently charges anywhere from a $6 flat fee for short-term docking up to six hours to a size-based rate for longer stays, charging $1.25 per foot of dock space each day. The city also provides free public bathrooms and Wi-Fi services.
According to city email records, Chuck Schoninger – the developer of much of the northern Riverwalk area, including Blackfinn Ameripub, Port City Marina and several future projects – contacted the city in early August, expressing interest in the docks.
According to an email from Director of Community Services Amy Beatty, Schoninger first approached her with an inquiry about “privatizing the city docks.” He then emailed City Clerk Penny Spicer-Sidbury with a “proposal for Port City Marina to manage the City Docks.”
Schoninger requested the following information:
- Schematics of docks
- Linear footage of dock space
- Revenues for the last 36 months
- Information regarding restrooms, including who is responsible for daily maintenance
- Information about security cameras, including a request by Schoninger that the city install cameras before any Port City Marina could take over operation
- Information about availability of city maintenance staff
- Information regarding where the current dockmaster works
- Confirmation that permission will be granted to run Port City Marina’s golf carts on the Riverwalk — according to Schoninger this would be necessary so “staff can get to your docks in a timely fashion.”
According to Beatty’s email, a similar request – minus the golf carts – was placed around the same time by Carl Marshburn, former captain, owner and operator of the Henrietta III riverboat.
Malissa Talbert, communications manager for the city, confirmed Mashburn and Schoninger had both expressed interest.
“We’re in the very preliminary of considering that option (privatizing the docks). It’s not clear if that’s something the city will do,” Talbert said.
According to Beatty’s email, Schoninger had been assured that if the city went forward they would first issue a RFQ (request for quotation) – or a call for bids – on the project.
Talbert added, “we wouldn’t just arbitrarily offer it to someone. It would be a public process and anyone could bid.”
Marshburn could not be reached for comment; Schoninger declined to comment. Representatives of USAInvest Co, the parent company of the Port City Marina, declined to give names or provide comment.
Send comments and tips to Benjamin Schachtman at [email protected], @pcdben on Twitter, and (910) 538-2001.
