Comments on: Neighbors Say Ann Street Pier Development Would Pose Marina Traffic Nightmare http://www.newport-now.com/2009/11/03/ann-street-pier-opposition/ Newport news. Now. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:29:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: mary http://www.newport-now.com/2009/11/03/ann-street-pier-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1203 mary Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:58:52 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=4709#comment-1203 The Ann Street Pier has been downtown Newport's best kept secret--the last undeveloped pier that one could actually walk along, and stand or sit on to view the harbor, away from the fray. It is the last familiar sight from the Newport waterfront I knew as a child. I have long feared that this jewel's days were numbered. And my fears have come true. I am concerned that soon this pier will be closed to regular folk, like so many others. And even if it isn't, it will lose its charm. But that is the city's idea of progress, I guess. Anything along the waterfront that doesn't generate a revenue stream is seen as a liability. Can we not have passive havens along the downtown waterfront --where people can sit and reflect? The Ann Street Pier has been downtown Newport’s best kept secret–the last undeveloped pier that one could actually walk along, and stand or sit on to view the harbor, away from the fray. It is the last familiar sight from the Newport waterfront I knew as a child. I have long feared that this jewel’s days were numbered. And my fears have come true. I am concerned that soon this pier will be closed to regular folk, like so many others. And even if it isn’t, it will lose its charm. But that is the city’s idea of progress, I guess. Anything along the waterfront that doesn’t generate a revenue stream is seen as a liability. Can we not have passive havens along the downtown waterfront –where people can sit and reflect?

]]> By: Dave http://www.newport-now.com/2009/11/03/ann-street-pier-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1185 Dave Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:50:06 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=4709#comment-1185 You can already use the Ann Street Pier as a dinghy landing, and there are others down by Ida Lewis, Washington Street on Long Wharf, adjacent to the Newport Shipyard, Elm Street. Actually one of the recent problems is businesses (particularly the one operating out of the Inn on Long Wharf) appropriating public dinghy docks for their own use, attempting to charge visitors for the privilege of using the publicly supplied landing. Why is it that the town feels the need to provide a service that's already provided by private entities, thereby competing with them at (no doubt) great financial loss to the city? Is there a reason the City holds onto this piece of property rather than selling (with restrictive covenants as to its use?) Are we about to see a massive tax break to the Pirate Museum folks to get them in the place? You can already use the Ann Street Pier as a dinghy landing, and there are others down by Ida Lewis, Washington Street on Long Wharf, adjacent to the Newport Shipyard, Elm Street.

Actually one of the recent problems is businesses (particularly the one operating out of the Inn on Long Wharf) appropriating public dinghy docks for their own use, attempting to charge visitors for the privilege of using the publicly supplied landing.

Why is it that the town feels the need to provide a service that’s already provided by private entities, thereby competing with them at (no doubt) great financial loss to the city? Is there a reason the City holds onto this piece of property rather than selling (with restrictive covenants as to its use?) Are we about to see a massive tax break to the Pirate Museum folks to get them in the place?

]]> By: John I-- http://www.newport-now.com/2009/11/03/ann-street-pier-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1182 John I-- Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:22:32 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=4709#comment-1182 This would be one of the very few spots recreational boaters could dingy into to go ashore and visit the local businesses. This would be one of the very few spots recreational boaters could dingy into to go ashore and visit the local businesses.

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