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Living on murky waters: Docktown Marina residents battle eviction

As the sun sets over Redwood Creek, the reflection of floating boats and homes glistens atop the water. The Redwood City neighborhood, known as Docktown, is eclectic both in color and character. Elegant, multistory floating homes neighbor small, scrappy boats, with a houseboat shaped like something out of “The Hobbit” movie nestled along the shoreline.

For 50 years, residents of Docktown, made up of families, retirees, veterans, artists and more, have floated on the murky waters of Redwood Creek. But like so many other relics of that long-ago freewheeling Bay Area of the 1960s, the 100-acre property may soon be swept away, with an eviction battle currently stirring in San Mateo County Superior Court.

On Dec. 12, 2016, Redwood City’s City Council approved The Final Docktown Plan – the city’s plan to remove and relocate the 117 residents of Docktown. The decision brought to a close nearly four years of conflict over the city’s efforts to comply with state statutes and the Public Trust Doctrine, which according to the State Lands Commission does not authorize residential use of Redwood Creek.

Then, San Francisco Bay Marinas For All, a nonprofit, on behalf of the citizens of Docktown, filed two lawsuits in January to stop the city’s plan. On March 30, Judge George Miram of the San Mateo County Superior Court, denied the group’s motion for a preliminary injunction to pause enforcement of the Docktown Plan during the trial. The nonprofit is now moving forward in both lawsuits, as the plan for relocation continues.

Lush gardens grow off the back decks and front porches of the floating homes at Docktown Marina in Redwood City, California. Photo taken March 11, 2017. (Bethney Bonilla/Peninsula Press)

If the residents prevail, it may well be because of a particularly poetic defense: their homes have been part of the muddy ecosystem for so long, they claim, removing them would cause more damage to the environment than keeping them in place.

“We are a part of the ecology of the creek and moving us would change that. We need to look at that impact,” said Lee Callister, a white-haired, 73-year-old Docktown resident, who pointed to marine life growing along the docks and hulls of the floating vessels.  “When the tide comes in, we go up, when the tide goes out, we go down.”

For years, city administrations played hot potato, gifting the responsibility of Docktown’s future to the next generation of officials. Throughout that time, residents-turned-activists crowded City Hall to protest their concerns and negotiate their futures.

Residents said the city’s efforts to close Docktown were fast-tracked due to a lawsuit filed in 2015, by a group called “Citizens for Public Trust.” Organized by Ted Hannig, an attorney and neighbor to Docktown, the lawsuit challenged residential use of the creek as a violation of the state’s public trust laws. In January 2016, the City settled the lawsuit, which led to the requirement for the relocation plan last December.

Members of city council have denied requests for interviews.

Also required under the settlement agreement was an environmental analysis of the sediment in Redwood Creek. Last year, the City hired Erler Kalinowski Inc., an environmental consulting firm to perform the analysis. The study showed traces of sediment contamination in the creek but did not address whether removing the marina would have environmental impact. Because of this, Erler Kalinowski Inc. told Peninsula Press it would not comment on the Docktown issue.

Alison Madden, an attorney and resident of Docktown, said the first lawsuit was filed to compel an environmental impact review, as required under the California Environmental Quality Act, before the community is relocated and the marina destroyed. According to Madden, the second lawsuit points to whether jurisdiction over Docktown’s removal belongs to the city government or rather the Port Commission of Redwood City.

“Nobody even mentioned state lands when I moved in 15 years ago,” said Ellen Savage, 67, while sitting inside her two-story floating home. Savage nicknamed her home “Floating World” to honor her late husband’s appreciation for a style of Japanese art known as Ukiyo-e   or “Pictures of the Floating World.”

The Peninsula Yacht Club, which sits adjacent to Redwood Creek and Docktown Marina, is an old tankhouse that dates back to the dawn of the 20th century. Photo taken on March 11, 2017 in Redwood City, California. (Bethney Bonilla/Peninsula Press)

On Friday evenings, Savage joins other “Docktowners” and residents from across the city at the Peninsula Yacht Club for dinner and an update on the lawsuits. The building, which sits adjacent to the creek, is an old tankhouse that dates back to the dawn of the 20th century.

Community members said the yacht club building was at one time a tannery, which for years produced toxic byproducts that built up under the creek. Savage said the lawsuit to require an environmental review could avoid the impact of disturbing the contaminated sediment and support residents’ defense as to why the community should stay put.

Built from rustic redwood timber, a giant metal tank sits upon the yacht club’s roof with a brightly painted flag. According to Savage, it’s somewhat of a community landmark, but in recent years, it’s become headquarters for activists in the community to meet and discuss issues facing Docktown. Inside the walls are dressed with flags and nautical memorabilia and newspaper clippings with headlines about Docktown.

Savage said the last four of her 15 years at Docktown have felt like “living in limbo,” but the community has rallied to the cause. “As they have always rallied to anything that is affecting people here badly, whether it’s a boat sinking or losing your home in another way.”

Docktown was once one of three floating communities in Redwood City. Peninsula Marina and Pete’s Harbor were stripped of their floating boats and homes and are now rimmed with high-end apartments. Plans for development at Docktown have been proposed but not yet approved by the city.

Madden, who is director of the nonprofit working on the lawsuits, moved to Docktown in 2013, after the closing of the marina’s neighbor, Pete’s Harbor, where she lived for a year. Over a hundred condominiums, nearly identical in design, reside there now, mocking the present and foretelling Docktown’s potential future.

“This is what they [the city] did at Pete’s Harbor,” Madden said. “They don’t care what the people think. They know what they want and what they need to do to get it.”

Residents said happenings at Docktown fit the larger narrative of cities and spaces in the Bay Area transforming into battle zones, during a rise in development.

Callister, a nine-year resident, said the lack of affordable housing would force many Docktown residents to leave the Bay Area.

“We are in a time and place when there’s a real shortage of affordable housing. Docktown has affordable housing in place,” Callister said. “It’s the kind of community Redwood City always says they want – neighbors interacting with neighbors, working together. That’s what we got here. Why would you want to get rid of that?”

Lush gardens grow off the back decks and front porches of the floating homes, and American flags wave above the water. With spring looming, the sound of birds, nestled up in the eaves of the boats, is met with the jingle of wind chimes. As residents fight in what may be their final attempt at saving the community, Savage said her most peaceful moments are out on the creek in her kayak.

“I want as much time here as I can,” Savage said. “I love living here. This is my community. This is my home. And if I have to live here but there’s an end date further down, at least that gives me some time to prepare for the inevitable. Time is better than nothing at all. Isn’t it?”

Video produced by Peninsula Press Reporter Bethney Bonilla.

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Peninsula Yacht Club

Sports & recreation , boating edit edit edit owner owned by {{businessowner.email_address || businessowner.displayname}} new owner update -- review -- spam approve status active deleted.

Peninsula Yacht Club was founded in 1960. Our building was originally an old water tower which may date back as far as the 1870's. Filling in the framework around the original redwood timber structure created a rustic building that, with our additions, became the clubhouse we see today. The wooden deck, dance floor, kitchen, and back bar were added to the structure as the membership increased.  Other than an occasional coat of paint the original water tank on the roof remains unchanged.

1536 Maple Street, Redwood City, CA

+1 650.369.4410

www.pycboating.org/uptown/

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Peninsula Yacht Club

  • Address: 1536 Maple St., Redwood City CA 94063
  • Phone Number: 650.369.4410
  • Web Site: pycboating.org
  • Membership ratio: About 50% sail - 50% power
  • Docking & Reciprocity: Club and municipal docking. Contact yacht club for reciprocal information. Reservations required.
  • Club Organized: 1961

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1536 Maple Street,Redwood City,CA,94063,United States,

peninsula yacht club redwood city

Business name : Peninsula Yacht Club

The Peninsula Yacht Club, founded in 1995, is situated on the shores of Lake Norman,  just north of Charlotte, North Carolina.  We are located at the site of the former Outrigger Marina that was founded in 1974. We began enrolling members in February of 1995, with area residents and boating enthusiasts being anxious to be a part of Lake Norman’s newest tradition. Ground breaking for the new Clubhouse was in November of that year, followed by a grand opening celebration in June of 1996. At the grand opening we consisted of approximately 540 members and has since grown to over 1,000. 

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You don’t need a yacht to eat at this waterfront restaurant

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A restaurant dining room.

A waterfront restaurant with a floor-to-ceiling jellyfish aquarium, custom 6-foot hearth, glass kitchen and second-floor clubhouse is now open at Westpoint Harbor in Redwood City.

For a restaurant boasting all the bells and whistles, Hurrica Restaurant & Bar is not trying to be an exclusive dining experience – it aims to build community and give back to local organizations while keeping prices more affordable.

“We want everyone to be able to come, whether you own a boat or you’re a member of a yacht club or not, but be on the water and have fun and have a great destination for your family and your friends,” said co-founding partner MeeSun Boice.

Departing from traditional yacht club culture, Hurrica is not owned by The Club at Westpoint, a nonprofit club for boaters and water sports fans operating out of Westpoint Harbor. Instead, Hurrica is open to the public and run by the same team behind San Francisco restaurants Waterbar, EPIC Steak and Mersea Restaurant and Bar. The classic Hurrica V sailing yacht, which was featured in the movie “The Great Gatsby” and is the namesake of the restaurant, was docked in front of the restaurant for the opening Jan. 26.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Peninsula Foodist (@peninsulafoodist)

Hurrica serves seasonally evolving modern American fare, with many dishes cooked over live fire. While you won’t find the menu on Hurrica’s website due to frequent changes, entrees on the current dinner menu go for $38-$55. It’s not a seafood restaurant; it’s a restaurant for water lovers. 

“I love just doing anything on the water, but I’ll probably never be able to afford a boat,” Boice said. “How cool is it that if you want to go kayaking, come on out and go kayaking and then come have a beer at Hurrica?”

A group of people in a restaurant.

Boice, co-founding partner Parke Ulrich and executive chef and partner Justin Baade all share a love of water sports, a connection that led them to the opportunity to open Hurrica. Ulrich and Boice met Mark Sanders, who built the Redwood City marina, through the West Point Regatta, an annual yacht-racing event in the San Francisco Bay. Sanders wanted to have a yacht club and a restaurant on his marina, but he didn’t want the restaurant exclusive to the club. 

“The culture of the yacht club is they don’t even want to be called a yacht club,” Boice said. “They call themselves The Club at Westpoint because they didn’t want to have that sense of exclusion where, ‘You don’t have a boat, you can’t be part of our club.’”

Boice, who focuses on sales and marketing, designed Hurrica and also co-founded Mersea with Ulrich. While Ulrich is the executive chef of EPIC Steak, Waterbar and Mersea, he is not taking on the role at Hurrica, leaving that to Baade.

A chef cooks in a kitchen.

For executive chef Baade, who has been cooking in San Francisco for the last 20 years, coming to Redwood City is an exciting opportunity to partner with farms in Santa Cruz, Salinas and Half Moon Bay. 

“I just went and toured a ranch in (San Gregorio), Pomponio Ranch, that does a super regenerative agriculture model for beef and pork,” Baade said. “I’m new to this area, so I’m looking for those partnerships, but that’s the exciting part of it for me.” 

He defines modern American cuisine as local ingredients cooked with techniques used throughout the world. Hurrica’s signature dishes include kombu-wrapped 1.5-pound lobster ($110), seared yellowtail jack ($39) and pan-roasted black cod ($42). Small plates include warm milk bread ($8), Mendocino uni ($10) and shellfish chowder ($16). 

“There’s this misconception about fine dining and elevated cuisine that it needs to be stuffy and formal in order to be good,” Baade said. “And my approach to it is very simple: Find the best ingredients and cook them simply, but with intention and technique…we want our food to be approachable, but have the level of quality and ingredients and technique that you would find in much higher-end and fancier places.”

A scallop appetizer.

A custom-made 6-foot hearth stands behind a glass wall separating the kitchen from diners. Many of the dishes on the menu feature components cooked on the hearth, ranging from beets to dry-aged tomahawk steaks. 

“That hearth was custom designed to Justin’s exact specifications,” Boice said. “So Justin can’t leave or he’ll have to take the hearth with him because that’s his hearth right there.” 

And speaking of customization, Hurrica is happy to accommodate all types of diets and create made-to-order dishes.

“We will accommodate anybody,” Baade said. “Servers will be trained to engage with the guests and say, ‘What do you like? Are you looking for something richer and satisfying?’ And we will pull from different aspects of the menu to create whatever we need to create for somebody… That’s part of the fun of cooking.”

The main dining room overlooks the marina through large patio doors, and diners can also watch chefs behind the glass kitchen. The dining tables are custom-made from redwood as a nod to Redwood City. The jellyfish aquarium separates the main dining room from the bar and currently has 100 baby jellyfish. Another 100 will be added to the tank, and the jellyfish will grow in size over time. A secondary dining room and patio seating are also available. 

A jellyfish in a tank.

Just outside of the restaurant, construction is underway for a harborfront pool for The Club at Westpoint. The second floor clubhouse, also exclusive to yacht club members, has its own bar, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the marina and ample skylights. The clubhouse is opening soon, awaiting final elevator checks. 

Private dining and events will be available to book starting Feb. 15.

Built in a corner of Hurrica is a to-go cafe, cleverly named the H2Go Cafe, which is expected to open in mid-February. The reasoning behind this cafe is threefold, said Boice: to serve those who live on their boats in the marina, people who dock at the marina as a destination and don’t have a car and the large youth community that uses the marina, like the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation and the LEMO Foundation.

Hurrica plans to partner with investor the LEMO Foundation, a nonprofit that provides resources to student athletes, to run food education programs. 

“We’re a big believer in the harbor and the people in the harbor and the yacht club,” Ulrich said. “And because of that and our history, we’re big believers in the community. We will be tied into the community in many different ways.”

Giving back to the community isn’t new for Ulrich and Boice. Waterbar has raised over $132,000 for the Marine Mammal Center since 2009, EPIC Steak continues to host its annual fundraiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Mersea Restaurant and Bar partnered with One Treasure Island to provide meals to struggling residents during the pandemic.

“When you’re in the restaurant and you’re about feeding, you’re not just feeding the stomach, you’re feeding the soul and the spirit,” Boice said. “Being an orphan, if it were not for the kindness of strangers, I wouldn’t even be in America building this crazy restaurant.” 

Whether you arrive by land or sea, love fish or hate it, have a boat or don’t, Boice welcomes everyone to come by. 

“We really want people to know that Redwood City is not Deadwood City,” Boice said. “We wanted to create a place that everyone feels included and to give back. And that’s what we hope to build in the heart of Redwood City.”

Hurrica Restaurant & Bar , 150 Northpoint Court, Redwood City; 650-499-4858, Instagram: @hurricarestaurant . Open Wednesday through Sunday from 5-9:30 p.m. Lunch service starting soon.

Adrienne Mitchel Food Editor

Adrienne Mitchel is the Food Editor at Embarcadero Media. As the Peninsula Foodist, she's always on the hunt for the next food story (and the next bite to eat!). Adrienne received a BFA in Broadcast... More by Adrienne Mitchel

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Redwood City Pulse

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You don’t need a yacht to eat at this waterfront restaurant

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A restaurant dining room.

A waterfront restaurant with a floor-to-ceiling jellyfish aquarium, custom 6-foot hearth, glass kitchen and second-floor clubhouse is now open at Westpoint Harbor in Redwood City.

For a restaurant boasting all the bells and whistles, Hurrica Restaurant & Bar is not trying to be an exclusive dining experience – it aims to build community and give back to local organizations while keeping prices more affordable.

“We want everyone to be able to come, whether you own a boat or you’re a member of a yacht club or not, but be on the water and have fun and have a great destination for your family and your friends,” said co-founding partner MeeSun Boice.

Departing from traditional yacht club culture, Hurrica is not owned by The Club at Westpoint, a nonprofit club for boaters and water sports fans operating out of Westpoint Harbor. Instead, Hurrica is open to the public and run by the same team behind San Francisco restaurants Waterbar, EPIC Steak and Mersea Restaurant and Bar. The classic Hurrica V sailing yacht, which was featured in the movie “The Great Gatsby” and is the namesake of the restaurant, was docked in front of the restaurant for the opening Jan. 26.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Peninsula Foodist (@peninsulafoodist)

Hurrica serves seasonally evolving modern American fare, with many dishes cooked over live fire. While you won’t find the menu on Hurrica’s website due to frequent changes, entrees on the current dinner menu go for $38-$55. It’s not a seafood restaurant; it’s a restaurant for water lovers. 

“I love just doing anything on the water, but I’ll probably never be able to afford a boat,” Boice said. “How cool is it that if you want to go kayaking, come on out and go kayaking and then come have a beer at Hurrica?”

A group of people in a restaurant.

Boice, co-founding partner Parke Ulrich and executive chef and partner Justin Baade all share a love of water sports, a connection that led them to the opportunity to open Hurrica. Ulrich and Boice met Mark Sanders, who built the Redwood City marina, through the West Point Regatta, an annual yacht-racing event in the San Francisco Bay. Sanders wanted to have a yacht club and a restaurant on his marina, but he didn’t want the restaurant exclusive to the club. 

“The culture of the yacht club is they don’t even want to be called a yacht club,” Boice said. “They call themselves The Club at Westpoint because they didn’t want to have that sense of exclusion where, ‘You don’t have a boat, you can’t be part of our club.’”

Boice, who focuses on sales and marketing, designed Hurrica and also co-founded Mersea with Ulrich. While Ulrich is the executive chef of EPIC Steak, Waterbar and Mersea, he is not taking on the role at Hurrica, leaving that to Baade.

A chef cooks in a kitchen.

For executive chef Baade, who has been cooking in San Francisco for the last 20 years, coming to Redwood City is an exciting opportunity to partner with farms in Santa Cruz, Salinas and Half Moon Bay. 

“I just went and toured a ranch in (San Gregorio), Pomponio Ranch, that does a super regenerative agriculture model for beef and pork,” Baade said. “I’m new to this area, so I’m looking for those partnerships, but that’s the exciting part of it for me.” 

He defines modern American cuisine as local ingredients cooked with techniques used throughout the world. Hurrica’s signature dishes include kombu-wrapped 1.5-pound lobster ($110), seared yellowtail jack ($39) and pan-roasted black cod ($42). Small plates include warm milk bread ($8), Mendocino uni ($10) and shellfish chowder ($16). 

“There’s this misconception about fine dining and elevated cuisine that it needs to be stuffy and formal in order to be good,” Baade said. “And my approach to it is very simple: Find the best ingredients and cook them simply, but with intention and technique…we want our food to be approachable, but have the level of quality and ingredients and technique that you would find in much higher-end and fancier places.”

A scallop appetizer.

A custom-made 6-foot hearth stands behind a glass wall separating the kitchen from diners. Many of the dishes on the menu feature components cooked on the hearth, ranging from beets to dry-aged tomahawk steaks. 

“That hearth was custom designed to Justin’s exact specifications,” Boice said. “So Justin can’t leave or he’ll have to take the hearth with him because that’s his hearth right there.” 

And speaking of customization, Hurrica is happy to accommodate all types of diets and create made-to-order dishes.

“We will accommodate anybody,” Baade said. “Servers will be trained to engage with the guests and say, ‘What do you like? Are you looking for something richer and satisfying?’ And we will pull from different aspects of the menu to create whatever we need to create for somebody… That’s part of the fun of cooking.”

The main dining room overlooks the marina through large patio doors, and diners can also watch chefs behind the glass kitchen. The dining tables are custom-made from redwood as a nod to Redwood City. The jellyfish aquarium separates the main dining room from the bar and currently has 100 baby jellyfish. Another 100 will be added to the tank, and the jellyfish will grow in size over time. A secondary dining room and patio seating are also available. 

A jellyfish in a tank.

Just outside of the restaurant, construction is underway for a harborfront pool for The Club at Westpoint. The second floor clubhouse, also exclusive to yacht club members, has its own bar, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the marina and ample skylights. The clubhouse is opening soon, awaiting final elevator checks. 

Private dining and events will be available to book starting Feb. 15.

Built in a corner of Hurrica is a to-go cafe, cleverly named the H2Go Cafe, which is expected to open in mid-February. The reasoning behind this cafe is threefold, said Boice: to serve those who live on their boats in the marina, people who dock at the marina as a destination and don’t have a car and the large youth community that uses the marina, like the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation and the LEMO Foundation.

Hurrica plans to partner with investor the LEMO Foundation, a nonprofit that provides resources to student athletes, to run food education programs. 

“We’re a big believer in the harbor and the people in the harbor and the yacht club,” Ulrich said. “And because of that and our history, we’re big believers in the community. We will be tied into the community in many different ways.”

Giving back to the community isn’t new for Ulrich and Boice. Waterbar has raised over $132,000 for the Marine Mammal Center since 2009, EPIC Steak continues to host its annual fundraiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Mersea Restaurant and Bar partnered with One Treasure Island to provide meals to struggling residents during the pandemic.

“When you’re in the restaurant and you’re about feeding, you’re not just feeding the stomach, you’re feeding the soul and the spirit,” Boice said. “Being an orphan, if it were not for the kindness of strangers, I wouldn’t even be in America building this crazy restaurant.” 

Whether you arrive by land or sea, love fish or hate it, have a boat or don’t, Boice welcomes everyone to come by. 

“We really want people to know that Redwood City is not Deadwood City,” Boice said. “We wanted to create a place that everyone feels included and to give back. And that’s what we hope to build in the heart of Redwood City.”

Hurrica Restaurant & Bar , 150 Northpoint Court, Redwood City; 650-499-4858, Instagram: @hurricarestaurant . Open Wednesday through Sunday from 5-9:30 p.m. Lunch service starting soon.

Adrienne Mitchel Food Editor

Adrienne Mitchel is the Food Editor at Embarcadero Media. As the Peninsula Foodist, she's always on the hunt for the next food story (and the next bite to eat!). Adrienne received a BFA in Broadcast... More by Adrienne Mitchel

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Real Estate | Dozens displaced as historic Peninsula dockside…

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Today's e-Edition

Real Estate

Real estate | dozens displaced as historic peninsula dockside community disappears.

Movers help Ellen Savage vacate her Docktown houseboat in Redwood...

Movers help Ellen Savage vacate her Docktown houseboat in Redwood City, Calif., late last year as the historic floating community began closing down. The city bought her home and she is relocating to Half Moon Bay. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Ellen Savage packs up her possessions as she moves out...

Ellen Savage packs up her possessions as she moves out her home in a Docktown houseboat in Redwood City, Calif., Monday, Jan. 12, 2017. The historic floating community's closure has forced Ryan to relocate to Half Moon Bay. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Joe Ryan stops by his live-aboard boat for the last...

Joe Ryan stops by his live-aboard boat for the last time at Docktown Marina in Redwood City, Calif., to pick up his daughter's bicycle, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. With the forced closing of the historic floating community, Ryan has relocated his family to temporary quarters in Half Moon Bay. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Lee Callister looks over Redwood Creek from his Docktown community...

Lee Callister looks over Redwood Creek from his Docktown community in Redwood City, Calif., toward the home of Ted Hannig, the attorney who forced the closure of Redwood City's last floating community, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The iconic water tower at Docktown Marina, home of the...

The iconic water tower at Docktown Marina, home of the Peninsula Yacht Club, reflects in a puddle of water, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

A sign greets visitors to Docktown Marina, Thursday, Jan. 17,...

A sign greets visitors to Docktown Marina, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. It is the city's last floating community. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The Evernote company building rises up behind Docktown's iconic Peninsula...

The Evernote company building rises up behind Docktown's iconic Peninsula Yacht Club water tank in Redwood City, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 17, 2017. The city's last floating community is facing closure. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Boats at Docktown Marina in Redwood City, Calif., line the...

Boats at Docktown Marina in Redwood City, Calif., line the south shore of Redwood Creek, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, across the water from newer three-story townhouses. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Joe Ryan surveys his gutted out, live-aboard boat at Docktown...

Joe Ryan surveys his gutted out, live-aboard boat at Docktown Marina for the last time in Redwood City, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. Ryan has relocated his family to temporary quarters in Half Moon Bay, after the city decided to shutdown its last floating community. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Ellen Savage takes a last look at Redwood Creek from...

Ellen Savage takes a last look at Redwood Creek from the deck of her Docktown houseboat in Redwood City, Calif., on her moving day, Monday, Jan. 12, 2017. The historic floating community's closure has forced Ryan to relocate to Half Moon Bay. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Joe Ryan, center, says goodbye to his neighbors at Docktown...

Joe Ryan, center, says goodbye to his neighbors at Docktown Marina in Redwood City, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. Ryan is moving his wife and two children from their Docktown houseboat to temporary quarters in Half Moon Bay. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Ted Hannig walks along the Redwood Creek shore across from...

Ted Hannig walks along the Redwood Creek shore across from Docktown,Thursday, Jan. 25, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. The local attorney won a lawsuit against the city claiming the existence of Docktown violated a public trust grant and was polluting the creek. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Ted Hannig's catamaran, the Knot Guilty, sits at a pier...

Ted Hannig's catamaran, the Knot Guilty, sits at a pier near the neighboring Docktown Marina in Redwood City, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. Hannig was the catalyst in the proceedings that forced the closure of the city's last floating community. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Ted Hannig walks along the Redwood Creek shore across from...

One way street signs hang from a fence at Docktown Marina, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. The few residents remaining at the city's last floating community will soon be deciding where to go. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

An empty chair sits outside the Peninsula Yacht Club at...

An empty chair sits outside the Peninsula Yacht Club at Docktown Marina, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. Crowds have gotten scarce at the club since the city decided to shut down its last floating community. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Floating homes at Docktown Marina line the southern shore of...

Floating homes at Docktown Marina line the southern shore of Redwood Creek, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. The city's last floating community is being shut down. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Auctioneers tour vacated houseboats at Docktown Marina, Thursday, Jan. 17,...

Auctioneers tour vacated houseboats at Docktown Marina, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. The city's last floating community is being shut down. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Boats and floating homes are seen in this drone view...

Boats and floating homes are seen in this drone view of Docktown Marina, home of the Peninsula Yacht Club, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. The marina residents, some on floating homes and others on live-aboard boats, are being forced by the city to relocate. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Boats are seen in this drone view of Docktown Marina,...

Boats are seen in this drone view of Docktown Marina, home of the Peninsula Yacht Club, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. The marina residents, some on floating homes and others on live-aboard boats, are being forced by the city to relocate. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

A housing development is seen n this drone view across...

A housing development is seen n this drone view across the channel from the Docktown Marina, home of the Peninsula Yacht Club, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. The marina residents, some on floating homes and others on live-aboard boats, are being forced by the city to relocate. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Marisa Kendall, business reporter, San Jose Mercury News, for her Wordpress profile. (Michael Malone/Bay Area News Group)

[vemba_video vemba_id=”24479″ /]

REDWOOD CITY — As an eviction deadline looms for the weathered houseboats that bob along the muddy shore of Redwood Creek, a few stubborn holdouts are fighting to preserve both their homes and a way of life that’s quickly disappearing.

If their long-shot legal efforts fail, the remaining residents of Docktown Marina — one of the Bay Area’s last floating communities — soon will be tossed into a housing market few can afford. As they lose their homes, the Bay Area will lose a rare, quirky enclave that for decades remained untouched by the high-end, tech industry-fueled development rising all around it.

“We’re going to fight like hell,” said Docktown resident and lawyer Alison Madden.  “It’s just such a loss.”

Residents have five lawsuits pending against Redwood City, including one that accuses the city of failing to study the potential environmental impact of removing Docktown’s floating homes   and another claiming the city doesn’t have authority to disband the community.   The holdouts, calling themselves the “bitter-enders,” still hope the court will provide relief, or at least delay their Feb. 28 evictions.

The city says it has no choice but to remove Docktown’s 70 floating homes. The state owns the land under the marina, and granted it to Redwood City in a trust that came with a caveat — the land must be available to the public. Docking houseboats is not allowed, the city’s attorney says, because it turns the area into a private, residential space.

Boaters have been living at Docktown since the 1960s, but recently Redwood City officials started questioning that arrangement. The issue came to a head in late 2015, when a lawyer living across the river from Docktown sued the city, claiming the floating homes violated the intended use of the waterfront. The city agreed to disband the community, promising to buy out residents and give them extra cash incentives to move.

It will cost taxpayers some $20.8 million to relocate the marina’s residents, city officials expect — more than twice what they estimated last spring. Some residents are fleeing the Bay Area in search of cheaper housing. Others are contemplating homelessness.

“This is a tragic situation,” Redwood City Mayor Ian Bain said at a council meeting earlier this month. “It’s tragic for the residents … It’s tragic for the taxpayers who have to foot this bill. If there was any way that we could have avoided this situation, we would have.”

Efrat Berman, 52, pays about $600 a month to dock her blue-and-white houseboat at Docktown. She’s been looking into RV parks,   but most have a long waiting list and accept only newer, more expensive motor homes.

“I bought an older RV just so I’m not in a tent,” said Berman, who has lived in Docktown since 2010. “But basically I don’t have a place to park it…That means I’m going to be on the streets, like the rest of the people living in their cars.”

The city gave Berman, who owns a tailoring shop in San Carlos, $3,750 for her houseboat, and another $10,000 incentive payment for signing the paperwork early.

So far, 27 of the 70 households at the marina have moved, and another 31 have agreed to leave. The homes include small boats, traditional houseboats, and large two and three-story houses on floating barges. The city offered between $4,000 and $48,000 for residents’ boats, and $83,000 to $1.2 million for the large homes, according to a staff report. So far, the city has demolished nine of the vessels it acquired, and plans to auction off others.

Joe Ryan, 59, stood surveying the gutted 43-foot Delta Clipper where he lived with his wife and two young children for seven years. Then he packed one last load — a light blue child’s bicycle — into the back of his waiting truck. Ryan, a contractor, planned to head to Half Moon Bay, then likely on to the Pacific Northwest.

Ryan met his wife here, just one of many residents to fall in love on the docks. Over the years, he and his neighbors gathered at the Peninsula Yacht Club — the community watering hole in the base of a historic water tower — to celebrate weddings, mourn deaths and toast baby announcements.

“It’s really sad to watch our community falling apart,” Ryan said, turning his head as he wiped away a tear.

Redwood City is considering a plan to build 131 townhomes bordering Docktown, but officials are quick to say that development wouldn’t affect Docktown itself. They still don’t know what will become of the marina once residents move out. They might convert it into a non-residential marina or restore the natural wetlands.

Across the river from Docktown, new high-end condos dubbed One Marina rise out of the marshland. One of those units is home to Ted Hannig, whose lawsuit against the city prompted the Docktown evictions.

Hannig’s kitchen window looks out over the floating community, and he docks one of his three sailboats, the Knot Guilty, in the neighboring marina. The 59-year-old lawyer says he watched Docktown boats scraping against the riverbed’s shell-laden mud in low tide, and wondered if toxic paint from the hulls was washing into a nearby wildlife sanctuary. He started researching the issue, which he says caused a stir among residents.

One day while he was unloading groceries from his car, a golf ball came flying toward his head, barely missing him. Hannig suspected someone at Docktown wanted to hurt him, and filed a police report. Now, it was personal.

“I decided I wasn’t going to lie down, and I was going to fight the issue,” Hannig said.

He filed a lawsuit, claiming Docktown residents were polluting the public trust land. He also alleged conditions at the marina weren’t safe, citing exposed wires, tripping hazards and a lack of fire hydrants.

Hannig says he sympathizes with Docktown residents. But it’s because of his settlement with the city, he says, that they received a year’s grace period and relocation payouts .

“It’s easy to point at me as the hatchet man,” Hannig said, speaking from Panama, where he was working on coral reef preservation and HIV prevention, among other nonprofit projects. “But this was going to happen. I just tried to make provisions so that the impact was buffered with some time and with millions of dollars.”

Though the case has made Hannig plenty of enemies — he says he sometimes gets accosted when he goes out to eat — Hannig has a resume filled with humanitarian activity. He’s chairman and CEO of the Danford Foundation, which supports local nonprofits, and previously served on the board of Casa de Redwood, a housing facility for low-income seniors.

Docktown represents a dying way of life, leaving boat-dwellers few options. Floating communities at nearby Pete’s Harbor and Peninsula Marina have been wiped out to make way for waterfront developments.

Some Docktown residents are considering moving to the Port of Redwood City or the Berkeley Marina, but space is limited, and they won’t take many larger Docktown boats.

Redwood City officials say they tried to save Docktown. They twice petitioned the State Lands Commission to grandfather the marina’s live-aboard vessels, and worked on legislation that would have given residents a 15-year extension, but both efforts failed. The commission   has allowed residential boats at other marinas on public trust land — such as the Petaluma Marina. But Petaluma is different, Redwood City says, because its land is leased to the city, not granted.

At Docktown, “bitter-enders” are left eagerly awaiting a ruling in the environmental lawsuit.

But whatever happens in court, it will be too late for 68-year-old Ellen Savage, who already gave up her three-story floating home of 15 years. Now she rents a manufactured home in a 55-and-over community in Half Moon Bay.

“I had everything in the world that I wanted,” Savage said. “This was the place that I felt I was meant to be in for the rest of my life.”

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You don’t need a yacht to eat at this waterfront restaurant

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A restaurant dining room.

A waterfront restaurant with a floor-to-ceiling jellyfish aquarium, custom 6-foot hearth, glass kitchen and second-floor clubhouse is now open at Westpoint Harbor in Redwood City.

For a restaurant boasting all the bells and whistles, Hurrica Restaurant & Bar is not trying to be an exclusive dining experience – it aims to build community and give back to local organizations while keeping prices more affordable.

“We want everyone to be able to come, whether you own a boat or you’re a member of a yacht club or not, but be on the water and have fun and have a great destination for your family and your friends,” said co-founding partner MeeSun Boice.

Departing from traditional yacht club culture, Hurrica is not owned by The Club at Westpoint, a nonprofit club for boaters and water sports fans operating out of Westpoint Harbor. Instead, Hurrica is open to the public and run by the same team behind San Francisco restaurants Waterbar, EPIC Steak and Mersea Restaurant and Bar. The classic Hurrica V sailing yacht, which was featured in the movie “The Great Gatsby” and is the namesake of the restaurant, was docked in front of the restaurant for the opening Jan. 26.

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Hurrica serves seasonally evolving modern American fare, with many dishes cooked over live fire. While you won’t find the menu on Hurrica’s website due to frequent changes, entrees on the current dinner menu go for $38-$55. It’s not a seafood restaurant; it’s a restaurant for water lovers. 

“I love just doing anything on the water, but I’ll probably never be able to afford a boat,” Boice said. “How cool is it that if you want to go kayaking, come on out and go kayaking and then come have a beer at Hurrica?”

A group of people in a restaurant.

Boice, co-founding partner Parke Ulrich and executive chef and partner Justin Baade all share a love of water sports, a connection that led them to the opportunity to open Hurrica. Ulrich and Boice met Mark Sanders, who built the Redwood City marina, through the West Point Regatta, an annual yacht-racing event in the San Francisco Bay. Sanders wanted to have a yacht club and a restaurant on his marina, but he didn’t want the restaurant exclusive to the club. 

“The culture of the yacht club is they don’t even want to be called a yacht club,” Boice said. “They call themselves The Club at Westpoint because they didn’t want to have that sense of exclusion where, ‘You don’t have a boat, you can’t be part of our club.’”

Boice, who focuses on sales and marketing, designed Hurrica and also co-founded Mersea with Ulrich. While Ulrich is the executive chef of EPIC Steak, Waterbar and Mersea, he is not taking on the role at Hurrica, leaving that to Baade.

A chef cooks in a kitchen.

For executive chef Baade, who has been cooking in San Francisco for the last 20 years, coming to Redwood City is an exciting opportunity to partner with farms in Santa Cruz, Salinas and Half Moon Bay. 

“I just went and toured a ranch in (San Gregorio), Pomponio Ranch, that does a super regenerative agriculture model for beef and pork,” Baade said. “I’m new to this area, so I’m looking for those partnerships, but that’s the exciting part of it for me.” 

He defines modern American cuisine as local ingredients cooked with techniques used throughout the world. Hurrica’s signature dishes include kombu-wrapped 1.5-pound lobster ($110), seared yellowtail jack ($39) and pan-roasted black cod ($42). Small plates include warm milk bread ($8), Mendocino uni ($10) and shellfish chowder ($16). 

“There’s this misconception about fine dining and elevated cuisine that it needs to be stuffy and formal in order to be good,” Baade said. “And my approach to it is very simple: Find the best ingredients and cook them simply, but with intention and technique…we want our food to be approachable, but have the level of quality and ingredients and technique that you would find in much higher-end and fancier places.”

A scallop appetizer.

A custom-made 6-foot hearth stands behind a glass wall separating the kitchen from diners. Many of the dishes on the menu feature components cooked on the hearth, ranging from beets to dry-aged tomahawk steaks. 

“That hearth was custom designed to Justin’s exact specifications,” Boice said. “So Justin can’t leave or he’ll have to take the hearth with him because that’s his hearth right there.” 

And speaking of customization, Hurrica is happy to accommodate all types of diets and create made-to-order dishes.

“We will accommodate anybody,” Baade said. “Servers will be trained to engage with the guests and say, ‘What do you like? Are you looking for something richer and satisfying?’ And we will pull from different aspects of the menu to create whatever we need to create for somebody… That’s part of the fun of cooking.”

The main dining room overlooks the marina through large patio doors, and diners can also watch chefs behind the glass kitchen. The dining tables are custom-made from redwood as a nod to Redwood City. The jellyfish aquarium separates the main dining room from the bar and currently has 100 baby jellyfish. Another 100 will be added to the tank, and the jellyfish will grow in size over time. A secondary dining room and patio seating are also available. 

A jellyfish in a tank.

Just outside of the restaurant, construction is underway for a harborfront pool for The Club at Westpoint. The second floor clubhouse, also exclusive to yacht club members, has its own bar, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the marina and ample skylights. The clubhouse is opening soon, awaiting final elevator checks. 

Private dining and events will be available to book starting Feb. 15.

Built in a corner of Hurrica is a to-go cafe, cleverly named the H2Go Cafe, which is expected to open in mid-February. The reasoning behind this cafe is threefold, said Boice: to serve those who live on their boats in the marina, people who dock at the marina as a destination and don’t have a car and the large youth community that uses the marina, like the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation and the LEMO Foundation.

Hurrica plans to partner with investor the LEMO Foundation, a nonprofit that provides resources to student athletes, to run food education programs. 

“We’re a big believer in the harbor and the people in the harbor and the yacht club,” Ulrich said. “And because of that and our history, we’re big believers in the community. We will be tied into the community in many different ways.”

Giving back to the community isn’t new for Ulrich and Boice. Waterbar has raised over $132,000 for the Marine Mammal Center since 2009, EPIC Steak continues to host its annual fundraiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Mersea Restaurant and Bar partnered with One Treasure Island to provide meals to struggling residents during the pandemic.

“When you’re in the restaurant and you’re about feeding, you’re not just feeding the stomach, you’re feeding the soul and the spirit,” Boice said. “Being an orphan, if it were not for the kindness of strangers, I wouldn’t even be in America building this crazy restaurant.” 

Whether you arrive by land or sea, love fish or hate it, have a boat or don’t, Boice welcomes everyone to come by. 

“We really want people to know that Redwood City is not Deadwood City,” Boice said. “We wanted to create a place that everyone feels included and to give back. And that’s what we hope to build in the heart of Redwood City.”

Hurrica Restaurant & Bar , 150 Northpoint Court, Redwood City; 650-499-4858, Instagram: @hurricarestaurant . Open Wednesday through Sunday from 5-9:30 p.m. Lunch service starting soon.

Adrienne Mitchel Food Editor

Adrienne Mitchel is the Food Editor at Embarcadero Media. As the Peninsula Foodist, she's always on the hunt for the next food story (and the next bite to eat!). Adrienne received a BFA in Broadcast... More by Adrienne Mitchel

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peninsula yacht club redwood city

Hours of operation can be found here .

The Club at Westpoint is for boaters and non-boaters alike. The club was formed at the beginning of 2018 to offer a place where people can come together, in sophisticated surroundings, and enjoy a haven where they can relax, dine, and meet friends.

Our purpose-built new clubhouse and restaurant is now open. It has unrivaled views of the marina and the SF Bay beyond. Westpoint Harbor is the 2018 North America Marina of the Year , a designated Clean Marine since 2013, and the first Harbor in the USA to be awarded the prestigious Gold Anchor .

We have a thriving schedule of activities at the club including:

  • Cruise-Outs both locally and internationally
  • Weekly social evenings most Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 to 9:00 pm
  • Monthly events featuring world-class entertainers and speakers and top-class food and beverages – see events
  • Our own sponsored racing series, The Friday Fun Series
  • With our sister clubs, The Annual Westpoint Regatta , the Bay’s fastest-growing YRA-sponsored race in the Bay
  • The youth Sailing program we sponsor is run by the Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation ( PYSF )
  • Our annual “Day on the Bay” open house of The Club and the Harbor with our partners including 101 Surf Sports
  • We actively participate in the California Coastal Cleanup

Our principles:

  • A non-profit, inclusive club for the benefit of the members and their guests
  • Promote and encourage an interest in the safe use of all forms of watercraft and waterborne activities
  • Managed and operated in an environmentally sensitive way
  • Involved in supporting our local community

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Dozens displaced as historic Peninsula dockside…

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Dozens displaced as historic peninsula dockside community disappears.

Ted Hannig walks along the Redwood Creek shore across from...

Ted Hannig walks along the Redwood Creek shore across from Docktown on Thursday in Redwood City. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Boats and floating homes are seen in this drone view...

Boats and floating homes are seen in this drone view of Docktown Marina, home of the Peninsula Yacht Club, on Thursday in Redwood City. The marina residents, some on floating homes and others on live-aboard boats, are being forced by the city to relocate. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Ellen Savage packs up her possessions as she moves out...

Ellen Savage packs up her possessions as she moves out her home in a Docktown houseboat in Redwood City Jan. 12, 2017. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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REDWOOD CITY >> As an eviction deadline looms for the weathered houseboats that bob along the muddy shore of Redwood Creek, a few stubborn holdouts are fighting to preserve both their homes and a way of life that’s quickly disappearing.

If their long-shot legal efforts fail, the remaining residents of Docktown Marina — one of the Bay Area’s last floating communities — soon will be tossed into a housing market few can afford. As they lose their homes, the Bay Area will lose a rare, quirky enclave that for decades remained untouched by the high-end, tech industry-fueled development rising all around it.

“We’re going to fight like hell,” said Docktown resident and lawyer Alison Madden. “It’s just such a loss.”

Residents have five lawsuits pending against Redwood City, including one that accuses the city of failing to study the potential environmental impact of removing Docktown’s floating homes and another claiming the city doesn’t have authority to disband the community. The holdouts, calling themselves the “bitter-enders,” still hope the court will provide relief, or at least delay their Feb. 28 evictions.

CITY HAS NO CHOICE

The city says it has no choice but to remove Docktown’s 70 floating homes. The state owns the land under the marina, and granted it to Redwood City in a trust that came with a caveat — the land must be available to the public. Docking houseboats is not allowed, the city’s attorney says, because it turns the area into a private, residential space.

Boaters have been living at Docktown since the 1960s, but recently Redwood City officials started questioning that arrangement. The issue came to a head in late 2015, when a lawyer living across the river from Docktown sued the city, claiming the floating homes violated the intended use of the waterfront. The city agreed to disband the community, promising to buy out residents and give them extra cash incentives to move.

It will cost taxpayers some $20.8 million to relocate the marina’s residents, city officials expect — more than twice what they estimated last spring. Some residents are fleeing the Bay Area in search of less expensive housing. Others are contemplating homelessness.

“This is a tragic situation,” Redwood City Mayor Ian Bain said at a council meeting earlier this month. “It’s tragic for the residents … It’s tragic for the taxpayers who have to foot this bill. If there was any way that we could have avoided this situation, we would have.”

Efrat Berman, 52, pays about $600 a month to dock her blue-and-white houseboat at Docktown. She’s been looking into RV parks, but most have a long waiting list and accept only newer, more expensive motor homes.

LIVING IN STREETS

“I bought an older RV just so I’m not in a tent,” said Berman, who has lived in Docktown since 2010. “But basically I don’t have a place to park it…That means I’m going to be on the streets, like the rest of the people living in their cars.”

The city gave Berman, who owns a tailoring shop in San Carlos, $3,750 for her houseboat, and another $10,000 incentive payment for signing the paperwork early.

So far, 27 of the 70 households at the marina have moved, and another 31 have agreed to leave. The homes include small boats, traditional houseboats, and large two and three-story houses on floating barges. The city offered between $4,000 and $48,000 for residents’ boats, and $83,000 to $1.2 million for the large homes, according to a staff report. So far, the city has demolished nine of the vessels it acquired, and plans to auction off others.

Joe Ryan, 59, stood surveying the gutted 43-foot Delta Clipper where he lived with his wife and two young children for seven years. Then he packed one last load — a light blue child’s bicycle — into the back of his waiting truck. Ryan, a contractor, planned to head to Half Moon Bay, then likely on to the Pacific Northwest.

Ryan met his wife here, just one of many residents to fall in love on the docks. Over the years, he and his neighbors gathered at the Peninsula Yacht Club — the community watering hole in the base of a historic water tower — to celebrate weddings, mourn deaths and toast baby announcements.

“It’s really sad to watch our community falling apart,” Ryan said, turning his head as he wiped away a tear.

Redwood City is considering a plan to build 131 townhomes bordering Docktown, but officials are quick to say that development wouldn’t affect Docktown itself. They still don’t know what will become of the marina once residents move out. They might convert it into a non-residential marina or restore the natural wetlands.

Across the river from Docktown, new high-end condos dubbed One Marina rise out of the marshland. One of those units is home to Ted Hannig, whose lawsuit against the city prompted the Docktown evictions.

Hannig’s kitchen window looks out over the floating community, and he docks one of his three sailboats, the Knot Guilty, in the neighboring marina. The 59-year-old lawyer says he watched Docktown boats scraping against the riverbed’s shell-laden mud in low tide, and wondered if toxic paint from the hulls was washing into a nearby wildlife sanctuary. He started researching the issue, which he says caused a stir among residents.

NOW, IT’S PERSONAL

One day while he was unloading groceries from his car, a golf ball came flying toward his head, barely missing him. Hannig suspected someone at Docktown wanted to hurt him, and filed a police report. Now, it was personal.

“I decided I wasn’t going to lie down, and I was going to fight the issue,” Hannig said.

He filed a lawsuit, claiming Docktown residents were polluting the public trust land. He also alleged conditions at the marina weren’t safe, citing exposed wires, tripping hazards and a lack of fire hydrants.

Hannig says he sympathizes with Docktown residents. But it’s because of his settlement with the city, he says, that they received a year’s grace period and relocation payouts.

“It’s easy to point at me as the hatchet man,” Hannig said, speaking from Panama, where he was working on coral reef preservation and HIV prevention, among other nonprofit projects. “But this was going to happen. I just tried to make provisions so that the impact was buffered with some time and with millions of dollars.”

Though the case has made Hannig plenty of enemies — he says he sometimes gets accosted when he goes out to eat — Hannig has a resume filled with humanitarian activity. He’s chairman and CEO of the Danford Foundation, which supports local nonprofits, and previously served on the board of Casa de Redwood, a housing facility for low-income seniors.

Docktown represents a dying way of life, leaving boat-dwellers few options. Floating communities at nearby Pete’s Harbor and Peninsula Marina have been wiped out to make way for waterfront developments.

CONSIDER MOVING

Some Docktown residents are considering moving to the Port of Redwood City or the Berkeley Marina, but space is limited, and they won’t take many larger Docktown boats.

Redwood City officials say they tried to save Docktown. They twice petitioned the State Lands Commission to grandfather the marina’s live-aboard vessels, and worked on legislation that would have given residents a 15-year extension, but both efforts failed. The commission has allowed residential boats at other marinas on public trust land — such as the Petaluma Marina. But Petaluma is different, Redwood City says, because its land is leased to the city, not granted.

At Docktown, “bitter-enders” are left eagerly awaiting a ruling in the environmental lawsuit.

But whatever happens in court, it will be too late for 68-year-old Ellen Savage, who already gave up her three-story floating home of 15 years. Now she rents a manufactured home in a 55-and-over community in Half Moon Bay.

“I had everything in the world that I wanted,” Savage said. “This was the place that I felt I was meant to be in for the rest of my life.”

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A view of the Pasatiempo Golf Course and clubhouse designed by Marion Hollins circa 1936.

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  1. Peninsula Yacht Club

    Peninsula Yacht Club. Location Hours Monday-Friday, 6 pm-10 pm General Contact Info www.pycboating.org (650) 369-4410 voice Specific Contact Don E. Harvey Commodore ... Redwood City, CA 94063 37.495035 -122.22127 Sports Service Options Accessibility Options: Wheelchair Services Fees: Dues are $190 a year plus an initiation fee.

  2. PENINSULA YACHT CLUB

    53. 19.1 miles away from Peninsula Yacht Club. Ana C. said "Came here on a Saturday night at 6 pm. I snagged a reservation that same day at 1:30 pm. I reserved the squid game's immersive game. Your party can go up to 6 people. I brought 5. My best recommendation is if you have a large group…". read more.

  3. Sailing Information

    The Peninsula Cup RegattaOctober 13-15, 2023 Click HERE for details. On-the-House Rentals. All of members can enjoy using one of our complimentary Fleet of Boats! 3 Melges 14 (1-2 person) 7 420s (2 person) Catalina 22 Rental. high61º Flow55º F. extended forecast. Peninsula Yacht Club.

  4. Home

    At the Safe Harbor Peninsula Yacht Club, we have the facilities and programs to accommodate your love of the water as well as providing the opportunities for social interaction. Request Info. dininG. Sailing. Boating. pool. marina. wedding & events . peninsula yacht club 18501 Harbor Light Blvd Cornelius, NC 28031 Phone: (704) 892-9858

  5. Living on murky waters: Docktown Marina residents ...

    The Peninsula Yacht Club, which sits adjacent to Redwood Creek and Docktown Marina, is an old tankhouse that dates back to the dawn of the 20th century. Photo taken on March 11, 2017 in Redwood City, California. ... On Friday evenings, Savage joins other "Docktowners" and residents from across the city at the Peninsula Yacht Club for dinner ...

  6. Peninsula Yacht Club, 1536 Maple St, Redwood City, CA

    Get more information for Peninsula Yacht Club in Redwood City, CA. See reviews, map, get the address, and find directions. Search MapQuest. Hotels. Food. Shopping. Coffee. Grocery. Gas. Peninsula Yacht Club (650) 369-4410. Website. More. Directions ... Peninsula Yacht Club. Partial Data by Foursquare.

  7. Peninsula Yacht Club

    Peninsula Yacht Club was founded in 1960. Our building was originally an old water tower which may date back as far as the 1870's. Filling in the framework around the original redwood timber ...

  8. Peninsula Yacht Club

    Yacht Club Guide of Peninsula Yacht Club : Click on Map to access Yacht Club driving directions and aerial views : Yacht Club Guide Yacht Club Guide ... Address: 1536 Maple St., Redwood City CA 94063; Phone Number: 650.369.4410; Web Site: pycboating.org; Membership ratio: About 50% sail - 50% power;

  9. Peninsula Yacht Club in Redwood, CA, United States

    Peninsula Yacht Club, Redwood, CA, United States Marina. Find marina reviews, phone number, boat and yacht docks, slips, and moorings for rent at Peninsula Yacht Club. The 2023 Marinas.com Boaters' Choice Awards Recipients Are Here! See This Year's Marina Honorees ... Redwood City: Contact Peninsula Yacht Club

  10. World Sailing Guide

    1536 Maple Street,Redwood City,CA,94063,United States, ... The Peninsula Yacht Club, founded in 1995, is situated on the shores of Lake Norman, just north of Charlotte, North Carolina. We are located at the site of the former Outrigger Marina that was founded in 1974. We began enrolling members in February of 1995, with area residents and ...

  11. Peninsula Yacht Club

    A group for the members, past members, and friends of Peninsula Yacht Club in Redwood City.

  12. Peninsula Yacht Club in Redwood City, CA 94063

    About Peninsula Yacht Club. Peninsula Yacht Club is located at 1536 Maple St in Redwood City, California 94063. Peninsula Yacht Club can be contacted via phone at (650) 369-4410 for pricing, hours and directions.

  13. Peninsula Yacht Club Public Group

    A group for the members, past members, and friends of Peninsula Yacht Club in Redwood City.

  14. Peninsula Yacht Club

    proximity to Peninsula Yacht Club. Here at Peninsula Yacht Club you'll possibly meet some folks from Redwood City; not far from Peninsula Yacht Club you'll come across Sempervirens Reservoir which is a wonderful lake. Manhattan Beach is near Peninsula Yacht Club and is a scenic beach to explore, and catch full-size fish at nearby Half Moon Bay ...

  15. You don't need a yacht to eat at this waterfront restaurant

    Ulrich and Boice met Mark Sanders, who built the Redwood City marina, through the West Point Regatta, an annual yacht-racing event in the San Francisco Bay. Sanders wanted to have a yacht club and a restaurant on his marina, but he didn't want the restaurant exclusive to the club.

  16. You don't need a yacht to eat at this waterfront restaurant

    Ulrich and Boice met Mark Sanders, who built the Redwood City marina, through the West Point Regatta, an annual yacht-racing event in the San Francisco Bay. Sanders wanted to have a yacht club and a restaurant on his marina, but he didn't want the restaurant exclusive to the club. "The culture of the yacht club is they don't even want to ...

  17. THE BEST 10 Social Clubs in REDWOOD CITY, CA

    Best Social Clubs in Redwood City, CA - Montauk, Civic Garden Club, Menlo Circus Club, Elks Lodge No 1112, Peninsula Yacht Club, Penninsula Lodge 168, The Rhythm Lounge, Orbiters Toastmasters, Peninsula Italian American Social Club, San Mateo Storytellers Toastmasters

  18. Peninsula Yacht Club

    Contact Us Address: P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento CA 94296 Public Information Inquiries: 1-888-326-2822 Email: [email protected] Aquatic Invasive Species Email: [email protected]

  19. Dozens displaced as historic Peninsula dockside community disappears

    An empty chair sits outside the Peninsula Yacht Club at Docktown Marina, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Redwood City, Calif. Crowds have gotten scarce at the club since the city decided to shut down ...

  20. You don't need a yacht to eat at this waterfront restaurant

    And that's what we hope to build in the heart of Redwood City." Hurrica Restaurant & Bar, 150 Northpoint Court, Redwood City; 650-499-4858, Instagram: @hurricarestaurant. Open Wednesday ...

  21. The Club at Westpoint

    The Club at Westpoint is a Yacht Club open to boaters and non-boaters alike. It is located in Redwood City CA, in Silicon Valley, at Westpoint Harbor. Toggle menu. About. Welcome; Hours of Operation; ... The Club at Westpoint is for boaters and non-boaters alike. The club was formed at the beginning of 2018 to offer a place where people can ...

  22. Peninsula Yacht Club

    See 40 photos from 53 visitors to Peninsula Yacht Club.

  23. Dozens displaced as historic Peninsula dockside community disappears

    Boaters have been living at Docktown since the 1960s, but recently Redwood City officials started questioning that arrangement. The issue came to a head in late 2015, when a lawyer living across ...