SWAMPSCOTT — John McAllister of McAllister Marine Engineering led a presentation updating the town on the current state of the pier redevelopment at a Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee meeting.
The project, which could cost up to $20 million in total, is currently in the design phase. According to Committee Chair Jackson Schultz, the town recently received a grant of $212,800 from the Seaport Economic Council with the goal of getting 60% of the design phase complete. The first phase of the project, researching its feasibility, was funded through a $100,000 grant from the SEC as well.
The project has been met with some opposition, including from the Swampscott Fishermen’s Alliance. Alliance member Mike Gambale said on behalf of the entire alliance that he feels the new design will not be usable for fishermen.
“One problem with the new pier is it’s too high,” Gambale said. “We’re going to ask if they could please leave the existing pier for us… If they take that down, they’re going to drive the remaining fishermen out of Swampscott.”
The new pier is expected to be 5 to 7 feet higher than the existing one, in response to rising coastal tides.
Gambale expressed his desire to see a conveyor belt added to the pier to facilitate the movement of lobster traps and other equipment. Schultz said there have been discussions about putting a davit at the end of the pier for fishermen so they can hoist things in and out of boats.
The alliance hired Smith Engineering to do an assessment of the current pier and what it would cost to return it to an adequate state.
“Why should I spend 20% of a $20 million project when I can repair what’s there for a couple hundred grand?” Gambale asked rhetorically. “It’s a piece of property in Swampscott, so of course it’s got to be maintained.”
In response to Gambale’s feedback, Schultz emphasized that the new pier is designed to service the entire community, as opposed to just commercial fishermen.
“It’s for people who like to walk on the beach, it’s for people who like to walk on the pier, it’s for the fishing community,” Schultz said.
He added that his committee will continue to welcome feedback such as Gambale’s as the design process continues. He argued that the current pier is not salvageable due to the rising ocean levels and that a new pier will inevitably be needed in the future.
“The completion date could be 2030. The time to plan for a new pier is not when it’s beyond repair, but now,” Schultz said. “2030 is six years away. The current pier, which is underwater when we get a storm from the (southeast), what will it look like in 2030?”
