Morgantown Dominion
Post
9 February
2007
By Evelyn Ryan
By the time the weather's right to enjoy the Monongahela River this spring, the Mon River Center will be ready and waiting, Morgantown City Manager Dan Boroff said.
The center is a restaurant, riverview and boating complex being completed on the river at the end of Donley Street in the Wharf District. "We hope in 60-90 days to be able to open with the restaurant, and spaces at the dock," Boroff said.
Being built with a state Economic Development Grant, the $4.25 million project "is going to be a signature piece for riverfront development," he said.
Platinum Properties is handling construction of the center and an adjacent $17 million mixed-use building known as Marina Towers.
The bone-chilling cold weather has stopped work, but that's been a bonus for the planners, they said.
"We want to make sure what we've got [for the restaurant] is right," said Rich Lane, Platinum's development director, "and it doesn't compete with other places in the area, such as Waterfront Place, Oliverio's, La Casa and others."
Within the next month, he expects to name the restaurant that will be opening at the center. It won't, he said, necessarily open at the same time the docks and boat rentals become available.
"Right now, we're targeting the marina portion to open in the spring, with the boat rentals and such," Lane said. Only docking facilities are available and it won't offer fuel.
An operating boating facility will help the plans to hold a pilot regatta in Morgantown sometime in June or July, he said.
Representatives of Morgantown and Platinum Properties are meeting with folks in Pittsburgh on developing the regatta, an event required by the state economic development grant, he said.
"We should have more details about this in 60-90 days," Lane said.
BOPARC will be in charge of the boating section.
"We will be managing the downstairs and the boat docks, the slip rentals and boat rentals," BOPARC Associate Director Ralph LaRue said.
"Downstairs, the primary tenant will be the WVU Women's Crew," he said. "Any space left over will be leased by the Community Rowing Association."
Because the Women's Crew team hasn't moved yet, LaRue said, they don't know exactly how much space the boats and other equipment will take up.
A small area for seasonal staff during boating season will act as an office and provide storage for oars and life jackets for the rental canoes and kayaks.
"There will be 16 slip rentals for boats on the river," LaRue said. "We haven't set the price for those yet, but it will be competitive with Stonewall Jackson, Woods Boat House and Cheat Lake facilities."
Lane said weather has delayed installing the dock to be used by the Women's Crew. "We're waiting for the weather to break to do that," he said.
The city is to let a contract "within the next week or so" for gas lines and utility work at Marina Tower, he said.
"We're looking at starting on the Marina Tower within the next 60 days," Lane said. "It's highly likely we'll keep the trail detour in place while we are working on it."
The detour area should not affect the annual triathlon competition, which includes a run down and back that particular stretch of railtrail, Lane said.
Marina Tower is expected to be ready for occupancy in early 2008. It will be an eight-story, 100,000-square-foot facility offering office, commercial and retail space, with an upscale restaurant on the first floor.
LaRue can't wait for the center to be ready.
"I've been up on deck watching boat docks being constructed," he said, "and I will say from a personal standpoint that the deck and restaurant view of the river is going to be gorgeous."