CHICAGO — Construction finally began this week on a long-stalled marina next to Navy Pier, and the developer said he hopes boaters will be able to hook up starting late next spring.
Eight years ago, Randy Podolski thought his plan for a temporary 150-boat marina next to Navy Pier would be easy to sail. Then Chicago politics got in the way.
“You know, that vision of bringing the lakefront to boaters in Chicago and boaters around Lake Michigan and beyond, was always the dream. That's always been the vision,” Podolsky recently told WGN. “That's what it means today to uphold it.”
Local and state regulators, including then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Army Corps of Engineers, signed off on the project years ago. But before the first edifice could be dug, Lori Lightfoot took over as mayor. Her administration tried to scrap the plan, claiming it would pose a security risk to the Jardine water filtration plant.
The factory is located directly opposite the marina.
“The only reason we won't move forward is because of Mayor Lightfoot,” Ald. “The irony here is that if we installed this dock it would make the North Pier much safer than it is today,” Brendan Riley (Ward 42) told WGN in 2022. There's nothing stopping you from driving the boat through there now. “
2023: Long-stalled Marine Marina gets the green light
2022: What's behind the battle over a proposed marina at Navy Pier?
The marina's developer filed a lawsuit claiming that Lightfoot's administration “exceeded its authority” in refusing to issue its building permit. Mayor Brandon Johnson broke ground on the project and withdrew city opposition after taking office in 2023.
Work is now underway on the privately funded effort and will continue through the winter with the goal of not missing another boating season.
“Nothing should be this hard. The community wants this. Navy Pierre wants this. The politicians who have been difficult to work with along the way say they want this. It's the reality of life, and it wasn't supposed to be this difficult,” Podolsky said. “.
Construction updates will be posted on NavyPierMarina.com. In the future the website will include boat voucher booking information.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and video, head to WGN-TV.
