After more than 20 years, the Dana Point harbor revitalization project is finally getting closer to reality.
“We know from experience that if you remodel and you upgrade and you bring it current, more people come to the harbor,” says Coffee Importers owner Jim Miller.
Miller has owned Coffee Importers for 39 years, nearly as long as the 47-year-old harbor has been in existence. The July approval of Harbor Revitalization, a $330 million project to renovate the harbor, is something he considers long overdue.
Hotel, business renovations, a new parking structure and slip reconstruction are all expected to bring the harbor into the 21st century. That would make it more energy efficient and accessible.
Plans to renovate the harbor have been on the table for 20 years, but it wasn’t until fomer Dana Point mayor and current Fifth District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett laid out a privatized funding plan that the project finally got approved.
“Ladies and gentlemen this is proof. We have the signatures. We have a project and it’ll be moving forward. Dana Point Harbor Revitalization,” says Bartlett.
As a 30-year Dana Point resident herself, the project is close to her heart. She says a partnership between the Newport Beach-based developers means the county won’t be responsible for the overhaul.
“Looking at the project from a county perspective, building out a new harbor is not what the county government is intended to do,” says Bartlett.
About $20 million of county money will go toward dry boat storage, but the project is projected to save the county $800 million in harbor operations. There’s no set date for breaking ground, but the plan is set out in phases so that businesses can stay open during construction.
As Miller looks to celebrate Coffee Importers’ 40th anniversary, he’s happy the harbor finally has a long-term solution.
“I think the harbor will be the absolute neatest place in the whole country. It’ll be a picture for everybody to come look at and see what a new harbor can look like.”