Marina Dock Age

Shadows Marina in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., had a soft opening May 1. The 55-slip marina is part of a larger waterfront development project and hopes to increase tourism by attracting seasonal and transient boaters, according to a Poughkeepsie Journal report.

The marina was a $3 million project, spearheaded by the Bonura family, whose $69 million public-private partnership with the city of Poughkeepsie will bring restaurants, a spa, and retail and office space to the development, adjoining the marina. The project costs for the marina include the marina building, landscaping, paving, and a river walkway, which should all be completed this summer.

The marina’s 450-foot paved walkway will eventually connect with the city’s planned river pathway to Victor C. Waryas Park.

The Bonuras secured permits for the marina in two a half years from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, and the City of Poughkeepsie. They received the final permit in February.

The city Industrial Development Agency is leasing the property to the Bonuras’ company, JM Development Group. Officials said the deal includes payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements with the Bonuras – essentially tax breaks the developer needs for the project to be completed.

Local marina operators said the mid-Hudson Valley is a prime area for boating and report slips are usually at or nearly filled to capacity.

Joe Bonura Jr., who is part owner of a significant section of Newburgh waterfront including two marinas and a restaurant, knows from experience that marinas create economic opportunities.

“There are hundreds of boats in the Newburgh waterfront. We have about 400 slips in Newburgh, and we had zero in the city of Poughkeepsie. We needed something,” said Bonura.

Not everyone, like commercial fisherman John Mylod, agree with the Shadows Marina development. He accused the Planning Board of pushing the project through without thorough review. “It’s a very large installation in a section of river that is not a good location for a marina…It can be very choppy,” said Mylod.

Shadows Marina uses a wave attenuator to reduce wave impact and protect boats. The marina is made of extruded aluminum that will be broken down and removed in the winter to avoid damage from ice.

About half of the seasonal slips were already booked at the marina’s May opening.

Hoping to attract boaters to the waterfront for a few hours or overnight, Shadows Marina offers transient slips accommodating about 50 boaters depending on the size of the vessels, Bonura said.

Private restrooms with showers and laundry will be added this summer.

Bonura said the marina will not be a shipyard, storing or launching boats. “We’re more interested in tourism activities, not the behind the scenes marina business,” he said.