Plans for a revitalized Martinez Marina inched closer to fruition as the City Council gave a final approval Wednesday to a negotiation agreement with Tucker Sadler Architects.
The waterfront in Martinez, which sits on the Carquinez Strait, has always had its charms, but has fallen into disrepair and neglect over the years, rendering a marina that is “well beyond its useful life,” according to the city. Parking lots are known to flood and businesses are unable to operate there due to unsafe conditions.
According to a staff report presented to the council, the city wasn’t entirely aware just how bad off the marina was until the management company there pulled out after 20 years in 2024.
Enter Tucker Sadler, which presented the council with a sweeping city-within-a-city proposal in July, complete with a dog park, plazas, hotels, restaurants, an event center and even an outdoor amphitheater. Oh, and pickleball, of course.
And that’s just on land. In the water, the marina would get a total makeover, complete with new boatslips, fueling stations and improved access for vessels — including, the city hopes, an eventual spot for ferry service. The seawall itself would also be repaired to ensure the basin is even usable at all.
On Wednesday, the council approved an exclusive negotiating agreement with the architecture firm, a precursor to any development agreement, though it does not guarantee one. It just means Martinez has agreed to discuss the project with Tucker Sadler only, for now.
Next up is an environmental review, then further honing the vision by tweaking designs and evaluating the plan’s overall feasibility, the city said. The community’s input will also be important. All this has a timeframe of two years.
No risk to local taxpayers, city says
The cost of the extensive project would fall on Tucker Sadler, with no city subsidy and no financial risk to Martinez taxpayers, the city said. The endeavor must be privately financed and self-sustaining. Tucker Sadler will also reimburse the city for all staff, legal and consultant costs during the negotiation period.
In fact, the city of Martinez says that the project will actually save it some money. In a news release sent out Thursday, the city said it would save $650,000 a year by negating the need for General Fund cash to go to marina operations.
The developer would also incur any costs to dredge and fix the seawall, which is a monumental cost that the city simply cannot afford. Martinez would also see tax revenue from new hotels, businesses and lease payments.
After dipping its toe in many scenarios, city management determined that no companies wanted to take over the marina as is and they would have to come up with a “go big or go home” plan that would generate revenue for both the developer and the city.
“Most marina operators and developers declined interest, citing the need for significant infrastructure improvements and revenue-generating landside development,” reads the staff report presented to the council. “Feedback from marina operators and developers indicated the … focus on passive and active recreation — with limited small-scale retail — was not an attractive opportunity for developers.”