The Salty Pelican Bar & Grill and a sidewalk to no where . . .

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Salty Pelican’s “Sidewalk to nowhere”

Susan Hardee Steger

A sidewalk “to nowhere,” running north and south in front of the Salty Pelican Bar & Grill is a thorn in the side for the owners of the newly opened restaurant, and more than likely a thorn in the side for the City of Fernandina Beach.

Customers to  the Salty Pelican, located just north of the historic Duryee building on Centre  & Front Streets, are flocking to the business but according to co-owners T. J. Pelletier and Al Waldis,  a sidewalk extension is needed to improve pedestrian access.

Pelletier and Waldis have talked with many city officials to extend the sidewalk south through the city right of way to Centre Street.  According to Waldis. “We have been working on this issue since January, and have had no success in getting it resolved.”

The problem;  the city right of way west of the Duryee Building is in dispute. The Fernandina Observer directed a series of questions to city attorney, Tammi Bach to inquire about right of way ownership and any liability issues that could be faced by the City of Fernandina Beach.  Bach responded, “At this time, I cannot answer your questions since this sidewalk issue will possibly be litigated.”

According to Pelletier and Waldis, Florida building codes required the owners build a $3500 sidewalk  west of The Salty Pelican on the city right of way in order to make the building handicap accessible.  Salty Pelican like other businesses must have ADA (American with Disabilities Act) accessible bathrooms and an ADA accessible kitchen.  Yet, according to Waldis, “It is difficult for a handicapped individual to get to our restaurant due to lack of a sidewalk extension.”

Pedestrians wait to cross railroad tracks

It’s not just about sidewalks.  In an e-mail to city manager Joe Gerrity, Waldis indicates there is another issue with cars blocking access to his restaurant. “Several cars each day park on the city easement west of the Marina Restaurant [Duryee Building], thus blocking pedestrians, people with strollers, and disabled people from accessing our business.”

 

 

 

According to Waldis, “These cars that park on the city easement force potential customers to walk on the train tracks to get to our business, if they come to our business at all.  We feel this is grossly unfair to us.  We have been working since January to have this problem corrected, and have been told more than once that it would be fixed by the time we open.  We are open and it is not fixed.”

The Salty Pelican Bar and Grill is a 201 seat restaurant that employs a staff of 54.  It is located in the city’s CRA, a special taxing district developed by the city as a funding source to improve infrastructure on Front Street.  The property was purchased in January 2012.

August 25, 2012 5:35 p.m.