Pelican Marina Tenants Blindsided by New Ownership and Rent Increases
On May 18 we reported that the Sausalito City Council had blocked the sale of Pelican Yacht Harbor to Cameron Razavi, the owner of neighboring Bridgeway Marina. This was a relief to the almost 100 berthers at Pelican Marina who feared significant changes under Razavi, including significant rate hikes. That all changed on July 2 when Pelican Yacht Harbor learned from a notice at the marina office that Razavi had completed the purchase. This was accompanied by letters to the tenants raising the rates by more than double.
The city council thought that they had the ability to block the sale by not approving the tidelands lease under the marina. Apparently, Razavi shifted to buy the company, Flynn Family Holdings, which owned the tideland lease, in such a way that there was no change in the tidelands lease.
The Marin IJ reported that marina tenant Dane Farber received a rent increase letter raising the rent for his vintage wooden trawler from $1,000 to $2,600 per month and raising the assigned parking space rent from $100 to $200/month. We’ve heard from tenants and from other marinas that many tenants are looking for alternative berthing as they are unable to afford these increases.
We’re in an era where everyone is experiencing challenges in the cost of living on all fronts, but the scale of the increase for Pelican Yacht Harbor is way out of line with what anyone might reasonably expect. The cost of slip fees has been rising up and down both coasts, including south of the border.
Sausalito mayor Steven Woodside told the IJ that they will be referring the situation to the Sausalito city attorney to see if they have any recourse.
The situation at Pelican Marina is reflective of the broader issue of keeping sailing accessible and affordable to the public. The Bay and oceans are open to everyone, but the access points are narrowing, causing the price of access to increase to the point where far fewer people will be able to get out to participate in recreational boating. The situation at Pelican Yacht Harbor will have a huge impact on the 100 slipholders in the marina, and we’ll have to wait to see if city councils and communities can have any say in how the scarce land and tidelands along their waterfronts serve the public interest.
Good for the new owners. Just because the slip fees were cheap doesn’t mean they were fair. With increased rents maybe there will be some openings for other people.
That’s ridiculous. Hoping bad fortune on others because of someone’s greed and lack of compassion is egregious.
Once again ,unbridled capitalism rears it ugly head ! I hope the millionaire class enjoy a world populated by only Richey McRich folks !
Out right greed, capitalism run amuck. No sense of community.
Somewhat myopic point of view. Possibly you have some experience on the waterfront in Sausalito or other longstanding harbors of the California coast? Doubtful, that comment belies otherwise… It is also sad the Armchair Sailor is no longer with us either, as you might have gained insight to some of Sausalito’s history in their books. Raising the cost of access to boating has never been to the benefit of either boating or those who enjoy and participate. Wishing you fair winds and great wealth so you too can enjoy the waterfront now….
On the east coast they have mooring fields and engineered permanent anchorage systems.
every eelgrass is sacred
GREED, GREED AND MORE GREED!
Um, CaptainJohn49. I would not say that $1000 a month is cheap, and frankly $2600 a month is insane.
Will Anderson I would not argue against every eelgrass being sacred. Do what it takes to mitigate the problem.