Hopewell officials preview $250K–$300K concept to convert marina store into waterside restaurant and event space

A city presentation Wednesday outlined a plan to redevelop the Hopewell City Marina store into a year‑round waterside restaurant and event pavilion that city leaders say could broaden tourism and generate ongoing tax revenue.

Mister Bennett, the city’s economic development presenter, described a concept that would replace the marina’s 1,000‑square‑foot retail building with a renovated interior (new kitchen, restrooms that meet code, and back‑of‑house space) plus a raised, accessible deck and covered pavilion above the flood plain. “We want it to be fully accessible,” Bennett said, noting the structure sits on piles to clear the floodplain and that a metal roof would reduce long‑term maintenance compared with canvas awnings.

The city provided a rough order of magnitude for construction of interior improvements and the deck of about $250,000–$300,000, a figure Bennett said includes new bathrooms and a kitchen shell but not appliances. He also estimated canal dredging would cost roughly $175,000. Bennett said the city does not intend to operate the restaurant long term; the plan would be to lease improvements to a private operator who would run food and beverage services.

Bennett told council the marina is already producing revenue after the city resumed operations: “We’ve been able to invest and collect over $100,000 this past year in fees,” he said, and projected that a restaurant with roughly 73 seats and two table turns on busy days could generate $30,000–$50,000 a year in meals‑tax revenue alone. He argued that such incremental tax revenue would help offset the initial investment over a multi‑decade horizon.

Council members asked about cost, dredging, and how existing marina operations compare with prior private management. Bennett said the city had collected more ramp and rental fees than estimated this fiscal year and has reassembled much of the marina infrastructure, including replacing more than 700 board feet of decking. He acknowledged ongoing capital needs and said the city is prioritizing safety upgrades and utility repairs ahead of larger investments.

No formal appropriation or lease agreement was proposed at the meeting; Bennett framed the presentation as a first concept to gather council feedback and to guide next steps on budgeting and design. Councilors requested follow‑up details on financing, lease terms, and expected maintenance responsibilities before any vote or contract.

The council directed staff to return with more precise cost estimates, funding options and potential procurement or lease approaches at a later meeting.