HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter to Peter Nichols re day stop pier at Cherie Down Park May 2012May 22, 2012
Mr. Peter Nichols
205 Cherie Down Lane
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
RE: VISIONING CONCEPT
Dear Mr. Nichols:
City of Cape Canaveral
Thank you for your thoughts and ideas regarding a day stop pier at Cherie Down Park and annexation of
the Capeview Elementary School property. Even though Cherie Down Park is located within the City, it
is owned/maintained by Brevard County and the Capeview property is owned by the Brevard County
School District. While the City is always looking for revenue generating streams, the
obstacles/requirements/funding associated with this concept would be daunting.
Port Canaveral has cornered the port of call market commencing in the 1970's when port of call ships
discovered the attractions of Central Florida. Their first home ported cruise ship set sail in 1982, at which
time the Port's first dedicated cruise terminal opened. In FY2011, the Port hosted 116 port of call ship
visits, up from 86 in 2010. Two to three port of call ships per week bring an estimated 320,000 additional
cruise passengers and 130,000 crew members into Central Florida.
As for the City, as part of the "Envision Cape Canaveral" program, it will soon be adopting and
implementing the AIA Economic Overlay District ("EOOD") to promote hospitality related commercial
development capitalizing on Port Canaveral. The EOOD is designed to create a unique identity for the
A 1 A Corridor with a distinct sense of place while attracting new businesses and customers.
Additionally, Cape Leisure Corporation (hospitality management) has moved into the former Stottler,
Stagg & Associates building on N. Atlantic Avenue; Tight Connections, Inc. (satellite communications)
and SpaceTEC (biotechnical company) have opened their doors at 191 Center Street. A micro -brewery
is currently renovating an existing building on Imperial Blvd. and Staff is in discussions with the
Radisson owner regarding a proposed Port of Call facility at the old USA facility on AIA. Beachwave
105 Polk Avenue • Post Office Box 326 Cape Canaveral, FL 32920-0326
Telephone (321) 868-1220 Fax: (321) 868-1248
www.cityofcapecanaveral.org • email: info@cityofcapecanaveral.org
will be opening a new store just south of Racetrac and the City is moving forward with the N. Atlantic
Streetscape Project.
Please do not hesitate to contact this office should you need anything additional. Thank you.
Sincerely,
David L. Greene
City Manager
Cc: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
Barry Brown, Planning & Development Director
Mr. David L. Greene - City of Cape Canaveral
City Manager
P.O. Box 326 - 7510 N. Atlantic Ave.
Cape Canaveral, Florida
32920
re: Visioning Concept
Dear Mr. Greene:
205 Cherie Down Lane
Cape Canaveral, Fl. 32920
(321) 784-6153
peter.nichols@att.net
May 15, 2012
A recent. verbal inquiry into the own6rship of the Key West Mallory Square
cruise ship pier revealed that it was not port nor city owned but that pier is owned
by the Westin Resort. The concept of a daily use, long term, cruise line, business
owned day stop pier is a mental and fiscal leap. That concept is the purpose of
this note to you.
Cruise lines have a habit of carving out their own pier stops. There are numerous
passenger vessel stops in the Caribbean where a cruise line has built the pier and
there the cruise line tie up their ships and the passengers disembark. It is a
profit/destination pier. It is nota point of embarkation.
I believe it is possible for the City of Cape Canaveral to have a day stop
pier. This is government as a business. A thumbnail of support information
follows.
Cordiall ,
Peter Nichols
cc: Barry Brown
Rocky Randels
David Greene
May 15, 2012
page two - ARGUMENT
Think about it: The primary reason we have cruise business in Brevard County
is Walt Disney World, Central Florida attractions, and a major confluence of
roads such as I-95, I-4, I-75/Fla. Turnpike, 528, plus OIA. As cruise lines build
more and more ships they need somewhere to go with the older as well as the
newer vessels hence the cruise line's creation of their own stops to enhance their
fiscal growth potential (reference Roatan/Calais/ Cozumel /others ). Cape
Canaveral is 400 miles closer than Key West is to northeastern United States ports
of embarkation. Cruise line fuel use is an issue.
Think about it: This concept turns on many hinges foremost of which is cost.
Revenue potential comes from a per passenger charge of $10.81 per stop.
If the City of Cape Canaveral has a day stop pier where 200 cruise ships stop at
that pier over a year's time with 2,400 (average count) passengers on board that
equals: $5,188,800 per year. However, the City does not get all that money as it
is split with the cruise line because the cruise line built the pier. The cruise line is
also going to want part of the revenue from the city owned shopping area of
Capeview. The Westin's Key West pier has done 600 ships a year. Cape
Canaveral's pier would be a dual berth pier. AIA tourism would be unaffected
yet city tourism dollars would increase. Annex: Capeview Elementary property
Evaluate: Cruise line vessels tie up at Cape Canaveral's 1,600 foot pier(average
length Nassau angular pier & Cozumel's linear pier) located beach side just to the
left of Washington St and continue to operate the normal shore tours. That cruise
line can rent pier space to it's subsidiary cruise lines to improve it's/city's bottom
line. There would be the additional opportunity for the cruise passenger to go to
Cape Canaveral's beach, shop, or wander around and look at your fine city. You
could place a Walgreen's or CVS pharmacy where Capeview's current
kindergarten exists as your anchor store. Beside that pharmacy would be a tasteful
shaded shopping area which would vicariously help turn Cape Canaveral into a
true bicycle community down Central to 528.
Study: The faults and details of this idea? A more comprehensive presentation
can be made to Cape Canaveral's City Council and you upon request. Questions
would be encouraged.
David Greene
May 15, 2012
page three
AGAINST
Environment
Public/city
Port Canaveral
Cost
Marine & draft issues
Liability issues
Security issues
Weather
Cape View Elementary land acquisition
Buffer lot oceanside to right of Wash. Ave.
Traffic issues
Parking
Coast Guard/ State /Feds
REQUIRE
Marine Survey
Cruise Line Cooperation
Cruise line construct
City/Environment `Okay'
Fed/state `Okay'
City acquisition Capeview& Wash St. buffer lot
Access
Money
Infrastructure improvements
Public support
City support
THERE IS MORE TO CONSIDER
FOR
City of Cape Canaveral
Improve property values
Public
Improve business opportunity in city
Vitalize Cape Canaveral interior
Enhance city coffers
Cruise Line .
Vitalize city from ocean to 528/AIA
Pier use after vessels leave
Parking revenue
Not a coop venture w/ port
Pier city controlled for city/public tax benefit
Economic improvement for city/citizens
CONCEPTUALIZE
Enhanced real estate value
City owned pier/shopping area
Centralized Cape Canaveral
Improved grant potential
A bicycle community
More local entrepreneurship/economics
Beach to 528 retail potential
City's name recognition accentuated
Regular beach restoration
Increase in City's coffers
More jobs
A stronger city