Army Corps of Engineers to begin $19.6 million makeover of Port Washington Town Dock

Port Washington's town dock, with its sprawling view of Manhasset Bay, is the jewel of the peninsula. Residents come to watch the sun rise; to watch it set; and to feel a sense of maritime peace amid the tedious rhythms of suburban life.

But for the past 13 years, since Superstorm Sandy, the dock has been in a precarious state: It flooded during the storm, and while it is intact, it has a damaged sea wall and is increasingly vulnerable to future damage from extreme weather events.

Reinforcements are coming. The Town of North Hempstead last week received final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin the $19.6 million makeover of the dock. The town will now begin the bidding process to find a contractor to oversee the project, Deputy Supervisor Joe Scalero said in an interview.

"I'm really thankful that this has finally gotten through the permitting stage, because that's what's been holding it up," Scalero said. "They've approved the design, and we can now move forward with the construction phase."

The town received $6.3 million in federal funding earlier in the year from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, bringing its federal total to $17.6 million, with another $2 million coming from New York State.

Fixes years in the making

Wednesday marks the 13-year anniversary of Sandy making landfall. The superstorm resulted in $65 billion in damage to South Shore communities, 13 deaths and 100,000 damaged homes, Newsday has reported. 

Former Supervisor Judi Bosworth, who held office from 2014-21, said in an interview the town had engaged in short-term fixes of the dock in the years following the superstorm.

"But you can only do that for so long," Bosworth said. "It's wonderful, at this point, that this project that has been so long awaited is going to get started."

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement in June that he visited the dock in 2014. 

"I stood on the Town Dock with Town of North Hempstead officials and called on FEMA to not forget this project. Since then, I have worked tirelessly to make sure FEMA delivers for the Town Dock,” Schumer said.

The plan will include numerous renovations and repairs, including a taller and more durable bulkhead to be placed in front of the existing bulkhead; sloped shoreline structures that reduce and absorb waves' impact; erosion revetment at the dock as well as a nearby beach; the relocation of overhead utilities underground; redesigned drainage systems; rain gardens; and more.

'New benchmark' for design

Mariann Dalimonte, the councilmember representing Port Washington, said in an interview the renovation will take place without demolishing the dock.

"Instead of collapsing Town Dock and rebuilding it, we're going to go eight inches out, which will take not as long," she said, referring to the addition of a bulkhead. "It has been a very long process."

The renovation also will include new park benches, light fixtures, irrigation systems, security gates, lighting, sidewalks, asphalt and gangways. Earlier in the year, North Hempstead made a $140,000 settlement payment to a Port Washington man who alleged he fell on a "dangerous" gangway connecting the Town Dock to a water taxi. 

Kristin Seleski, the town's public works commissioner, said in a statement the reimagined Town Dock will "set a new benchmark for park design."

Scalero declined to provide a timeline for the construction of the project but said, "it's not going to be one of those government projects you hear, 'Oh, it's a five-year time frame.'" He estimated the bidding process would be complete by next spring. 

"It's nice when you're doing a dock, to also be able to have an eye toward the environment," Scalero said, adding it's "a relief that the project is underway, since it's been stalled for 13 years."

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.