While I was visiting the Maritime Center this past summer I noticed this curious rendering hanging on the wall. As I stared at the depiction I narrowed in on the ramp that was seen leading down to the water. As I stared, I began to place (in my mind) where this was… or knowing John fairly well by that point, where this was intended to be. Suddenly it occurred to me that this could only be a proposal for the former airplane launch at LaSalle Park. Once I had focused in on the ramp, the rest of the image came into play.
In order to make this rendering work, there would have to be a manmade sea wall added to the park. That sea wall would offer protection for a small harbor where boats could be moored. To the right of the image are the existing condos that you see there today. The bike trail leading towards the back of the image is also there, as is the roadway off to the left (though that roadway should be moved to the rear of the park – away from the water’s edge).
The land where you see this rendering looks like this right now. It’s just waiting for investment. I would think that it would behoove The City to find financial partners for this part of LaSalle Park… maybe someone like Captain Pierre Wallinder who has been looking for a home for his Maritime Charter School. Maybe with the help of John Montague’s vision that we see here, Pierre (or somebody with a vision) could look into investing in this parcel of underutilized land. If something were to happen there, it would only help to reinforce possible plans at Colonel Ward Pumping Station. Maybe there could even be a Master Plan someday? For a while this property was used as a place to take the dogs, but now that there is a dog park, this land is an open slate.
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