Seward Harbor redesign estimated at $8 million; officials say grants could cut cost

Dawson Farber, the town’s Harbor Master, told the Capitol Outlay Committee on Oct. 23 that a long‑planned West Side Seward Harbor renovation now carries an estimated construction cost of about $8,000,000 after pandemic‑era delays and price escalations.

Farber said the project — developed from a use‑and‑capacity study done in 2009–2012 and refined by a five‑year design effort — would relocate small office and restroom structures to the highest elevation on the lot, reconfigure traffic and parking, and replace the stormwater remediation system. "We are now at, an estimate of $8,000,000," Farber said, and he described that figure as driven by supply‑chain delays, contractor cost increases and added contingencies.

The project team is seeking grant support. Farber identified past and potential funders by name, including the Seaport Economic Council and several Coastal Zone Management (CZM) programs such as the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant and other CZM coastal‑resiliency awards. He said those grant sources — if secured — could reduce the estimated construction cost by roughly $3–4 million in a best‑case scenario but cautioned there is no guarantee of awards.

Committee members pressed on specific scope and compliance items. Farber said the design includes two handicap access ramps and modest net parking gains (about five or six additional compliant spaces) while bringing the lot up to current code. He also told the committee that relocating the small office and restroom to the southern, higher portion of the lot results in more than a six‑foot elevation difference for the new structures and should reduce flood risk.

On the near‑term maintenance need, Farber reiterated the committee’s recurring dredging requests for the Seward Harbor entrance channel, noting winter storms and north winds regularly build sandbars that can strand vessels. He said past cycles had included grant support (he referenced roughly $275,000 in secured grant funds in a recent year) and that the town typically budgets an escalation amount in anticipation of rising costs.

A staff member clarified procedural steps: full appropriation of any borrowing or town funds would still be taken to town meeting in most cases, and whether a grant requires a prior appropriation depends on the grant program. The committee did not take a formal vote on the harbor projects at the Oct. 23 meeting; staff and Farber indicated they will bring updated funding sheets and any revised scope back to the committee as grant opportunities and design work progress.

Next steps: Farber will continue outreach to grant programs and update the committee with revised cost estimates and funding‑source scenarios before the capital ratings process.