• "Big Changes in Plattsburgh"

• "Lake Champlain Land Trust Purchases Law Island"

"Big Changes in Plattsburgh"

by Rob McDowell

ou can't call it Dock and Dump anymore. Finally somebody is doing it right. Jim Carter, Art and Matt Spiegal have teamed up to make Plattsburgh Boat Basin, nee Plattsburgh Harbor Marina, nee Dock and Coal, into a Real Marina.

Art Spiegal

This isn't a bunch of out of town carpetbaggers trying to make a quick buck with a few new docks, a couple of pails of paint, and a six page dockage contract, but some solidly local folks that believe if you do a good job at something, make it attractive and welcome people, they’ll come and do business. Jim Carter, also the owner of Snug harbor Marina in Valcour,. no stranger to marina construction, has orchestrated an impressive effort in reworking the former coalyard into a handsome marina. They cleared the property of the old Quonset Huts, poured concrete curbing around the basin, installed new sewage lines and a new fuel storage and delivery system. The property was graded and construction of a new restaurant, ships store, marina office, and restroom building. is rapidly nearing completion. The building has the feel of an Adirondack Lodge with a stone fireplace, a cathedral ceiling with log rafters, a massive stone bar, and live edge wood siding spanning stone corners. It is situated at the head of the basin, facing east and south, and offering a view of Cumberland Bay, Crab Island, and the Green Mountains.

They have built new docks, refurbished the old docks, and are determined to upgrade the property to the resort we’ve all thought was possible, but no one else could seem to do. Art Spiegal said "we know we won’t fill up this year because most boaters have already signed their 1996 dockage contracts, but after they come and see us this summer, we’re confident we’ll do well next year". . The restaurant is named "the naked turtle" and is the creation of Matt Spiegal and managed by Jonathan White, formerly executive chef at Topnotch of Stowe, Vermont. The setting will be casual and the fare pub style, featuring steaks, chops, burgers, salads and seafood, served on the deck or in front of the fir e. The "naked turtle" will be open all year.

Matt Spiegal and Jonathan White

When asked about hosting the Mayor’s Cup race, Jim Carter said "We’re going to go all out to welcome the sailors to plattsburgh this year. We will do everything we can to help make the race a success." This should encourage those who have been ducking the Mayor’s Cup because of an uneven reception to come race and party in the ‘Burgh this summer.

Plattsburgh Boat Basin will be a full service marina offering complete fuel, dockage, hauling, boat and engine service, a marine store, brokerage and boat sales. Transient boaters are welcome, and restaurant patrons will not be charged dockage while they eat. Most of the docks are floating now, the travel lift is actively launching boats, and at the present rate of work, the restaurant and store building should be open soon. The Plattsburgh waterfront is looking better with the building of Plattsburgh Boat Basin, and we all hope that this is only the start.