Boat access battle won in North Carolina

SOUTHPORT, N.C. – Following public outcry at the possible loss of the state-owned Southport Marina, Gov. Mike Easley has reported that it has been taken off the market, according to several news outlets.

“I have directed State Ports Chair Carl Stewart to explore options to upgrade the marina maintenance requirements in the least in order to improve the use and aesthetics of the facility, but the state does not intend to transfer the title of this property,” he said in a press release.

The 180-slip, 45.6-acre marina, which also has 223 dry storage slips, was sold to the state for $9,000 in 1963.

Several developers had expressed interest in buying the marina earlier this year, and the state had said it would consider their bids, much to the dismay of many locals.

“Public waterfront property needs to stay available to the average person, and the government understands that,” State Rep. Bonner Stiller, R-Brunswick, told Red Nova for an article today.

Condo developers have purchased many privately owned North Carolina marinas in recent years, but the potential sale of the Southport Marina raised controversy because it is owned by the government.

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