Transformation of Harwich waterfront nears completion

Aug. 27--HARWICH PORT -- Only the beat of a solitary hammer and the intermittent percussion of an air compressor disturbed the still, humid air of Saquatucket Harbor. Construction on the multimillion dollar overhaul of the harbormaster complex is winding down.

"It's all coming together," Harbormaster John Rendon said, a mix of relief and anticipation in his voice as he walked the dirt and gravel pathway from the new maintenance barn to the new harbormaster office overlooking the harbor.

With a September move-in just weeks away, construction was down to a punch list on a $4 million project that replaced an aging and cramped harbormaster office, built a new maintenance shed and added amenities to attract the nonboating public, including artisan sheds and a new snack shack and boardwalk. This past Memorial Day also marked the completion of a companion project, the opening of the $7 million reconstruction of the marina infrastructure, with handicapped-accessible floats and ramps, new electrical, water and fire suppression systems and an expanded number of slips.

"I think the town is pleased. I know I am, I know John is, and the boaters are," said Matthew Hart, chairman of the town Waterways Committee.

This is the final piece of a significant rebuilding of Harwich's waterfront assets that included a $1.7 million replacement of the pier and bulkheads at Wychmere Harbor in 2014 and a $650,000 improvement of Allen Harbor in 2015. The town is working on a sidewalk proposal that would connect the harbors with downtown Harwich Port.

A year ago this was all on paper, and it took some wrangling to get to construction. Skyrocketing construction prices and an overly optimistic initial proposal combined to scale back a proposed 60-seat, 2,400-square-foot restaurant and ticket building to a 550-square-foot snack shack and four sheds selling tickets to the ferry, seal-watch and fishing vessels. It drew criticism from some selectmen who said proponents too often underestimated costs and worried the project was no longer what voters thought they were getting when they approved it.

"I have been very impressed with it all along," countered Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Julie Kavanagh. "It's not overdone, it's sensible."

Conditions at the old office were terrible, Kavanagh said. There was little room for storage, office space was crowded. Rendon had to share his office with a staff member. The new building has individual offices, a mud room, conference room, storage, restrooms and private bathroom and showering facilities for mariners. The new building is also set 10 feet farther back from the water and raised on pilings to get it out of harm's way in major storms.

Kavanagh praised Rendon for getting state grants totaling $2 million for the marina and land-side work.

The $7 million marina project was held up for months as the town pressed the Army Corps of Engineers for a permit that allowed the construction of 27 slips in the federal navigation channel to offset those lost in building a large handicapped-accessible ramp to load passengers onto larger vessels such as the ferry and seal-watch and party boats.

That permit was granted and the marina has 11 more slips than it did before the renovation. The handicap ramp allows passengers in wheelchairs to roll right onto the vessels instead of having to be carried aboard by crew members. Main walkways to the boat slips are wider -- 8 feet vs. 6 feet -- making them more accessible for wheelchairs. Hart also serves as chairman of the town's accessibility rights commission and said Harwich worked hard to make the harbor compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"We knew we had a problem," Hart said of ADA compliance. The town hired an engineer to investigate accessibility issues and solutions, and worked with the town building inspector and the state architectural access board.

The new walkways replaced narrow docks that had lost some flotation and were twisted like a fun house stairway. Utilities were exposed, electrical wires sometimes dipped into the water and the fire suppression system was no longer functional. The upgrade has utilities sealed inside concrete floating docks. Smaller walkways leading to boats are made of durable tropical hardwood, Rendon said.

The harbor was dredged to a depth of 6 feet at low tide, with channels for the larger ferry, party boats and seal-watch vessels scooped out to 8 feet.

A $1 million grant from the state's Seaport Economic Council and a $6 million borrowing by the town paid for the water-side project. Over 70 percent of the amount borrowed will be paid by user fees, Rendon said. Slip fees went up by about 10 percent.

The harbormaster complex also received a $1 million Seaport grant, with the remaining $3 million paid by taxpayers. Rendon said the project might come in at around $3.8 million once completed.

"Overall, it's going to be such a great asset to the town," Kavanagh said.

-- Follow Doug Fraser on Twitter: dougfrasercct.

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