City accepting ideas for waterfront

New London testing the water to find out what businesses might be interested in site

— News has gotten around about the restaurant set to open up this spring on one of the city’s piers.

And now the city is testing the water to find out what other businesses might be interested in livening up the waterfront. The city has issued a request for proposals for a “business venture,” and someone looking to lease a swath of undeveloped land along the waterfront, at 1 Waterfront Park. The site is not far from where City Dock Oyster Bar, formerly known as Whaling City Dock, is expected to open in May.

That restaurant, being constructed off site with four shipping containers by restaurateur Frank Maratta, is expected to be in place by April.

The request for proposals, conducted in partnership with the New London Port Authority, is purposefully broad in scope. Felix Reyes, director of the city’s Office of Development and Planning, said the city is looking for “a business venture that makes sense for the city.”

“It could be a water-dependent use, entertainment venue, food, retail or seasonal attraction. It could be a restaurant,” Reyes said. “We have this piece of real estate. There have been people looking for a business venture at that location. Obviously the (planned) restaurant will bring in more foot traffic. That’s going to bring in more opportunities for the waterfront.”

Breathing new life into the waterfront has been one of Mayor Michael Passero’s focuses since he took office. In 2017, at his urging, the New London Port Authority entertained the idea of a waterfront coordinator in an attempt to boost activity and attract commercial fishing and sailing charters, yachts, tall ships and pleasure vessels.

A waterfront coordinator never came to be but Maratta’s idea for the

waterfront restaurant, initially pitched to the New London Port Authority, was that it would attract boaters and act as a catalyst for all of downtown.

Maratta developed Sunset Ribs in Waterford, Harbor Park in Middletown and The Pavilion in Old Lyme. He said he sees major untapped potential in New London. He has had power extended to the area where the restaurant will be located and both bar and kitchen shipping containers are under construction. The restaurant is being constructed with a tent and shipping containers to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements. Maratta said when needed, the entire restaurant could be hefted onto a flatbed and removed.

Since his restaurant is located on the pier, Maratta also had to obtain a license from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which initially rejected the idea and deemed it a privatization of the downtown Waterfront Park. DEEP has since granted the license.

In response to the idea of a new business nearby, Maratta said, “God bless them.”

Reyes said there will be fewer regulatory hurdles, since the new location is on ground, not above water. It is a 15,500-square foot dirt lot across from Children’s Discovery Pier that has been used for rides during Sailfest.

An evaluation committee composed of representatives from the New London Port Authority and Office of Development and Planning will look over proposals and may choose one for negotiation of a lease. The request for proposals states that the city is not committed to grant a lease. The proposals are due before March 5.

More information is available on the city’s website at bit.ly/nlwfprfp.

“We have this piece of real estate. There have been people looking for a business venture at that location. Obviously the (planned) restaurant will bring in more foot traffic. That’s going to bring in more opportunities for the waterfront.”

FELIX REYES, DIRECTOR

NEW LONDON’S OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING