NEWPORT NEWS — Construction is expected to begin within the year on new docks and a seafood market at the city-owned Seafood Industrial Park.
Newport News recently secured state funding to begin construction work on the dock improvements. Last week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that an $800,000 grant from the Port Host Communities Revitalization Fund would go to Newport News to redevelop the 39-acre Seafood Industrial Park dock.
“Revitalizing derelict structures will not only stimulate job creation but also act as a driving force for fresh economic prospects in these port host communities,” said Youngkin in a news release.
The Seafood Industrial Park, which Newport News owns, is one of the nation’s premier seafood harbors and home to many seafood and other water-dependent companies.
The new docks will increase capacity to allow up to 10-12 boats at a time as well as separate docks for transient boats visiting the planned seafood market, according to Newport News Director of Development Florence Kingston. The existing piers can currently fit between six and eight boats. Additional improvements will include concrete decking and pilings, man overboard ladders, throw rings, fire protection, electrical and water hookups and improved pier lighting.
Kingston said the existing piers at the northernmost end of the park are in poor condition and “well past their service life.” The dredging and dock improvements will “support the watermen utilizing the harbor,” she said.
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The seafood market project is one of the activities connected with the Choice Neighborhood Initiative — an effort to provide affordable mixed-income housing and community development in the Southeast Community. Some ideas for the market include kiosks, restaurants and a hall where vendors could sell seafood. Kingston previously said the market would satisfy customers who want their seafood to be “as fresh as possible.”
Kingston said, in addition to the seafood sales, the market will include a commercial kitchen for food service and spaces for food-based entrepreneurship and outdoor waterfront space. The city expects the the market to be around 7,800 square feet.
New renderings for the project give a feel for what the redevelopment could look like.
Kingston said the city was “very excited” about the state grant award for the dock improvements. The program requires a one-to-one match, and the city will provide the required matching funds for the project.
Kingston said the city will need to demolish existing pier structures and do dredging work to prepare for dock construction. Based on the current schedule, Kingston said the city expects the dredging and pier demolition work to be completed this fall, with the new dock construction commencing in late 2024 or early 2025 and completed in summer 2025.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration awarded the city more than $600,000 to support the design work for the dock improvements, seafood market and dredging work at the head of the park.
Kingston said the design for the dredging is complete, and the city should soon issue an invitation for bids. Design work on dock improvements is about 90% complete. Moffat & Nichol is coordinating the design for the dredging and dock improvement projects. Work Program Architects is doing the design work for the seafood market.
She said the seafood market plans are 30% complete and design should wrap up this summer. The current plan is that the seafood market construction will be bid late summer or early fall of this year and be completed around the same time next year.
Kingston said the city’s estimate for design and construction for the dredging and dock improvement projects is around $6.25 million. The estimate for the seafood market is $9.8 million. However, she added, the cost could change as the designs are refined and projects go to bid.
Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com
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