Pigeon Point, a charming and historic neighborhood just blocks from downtown Bay Street, has been undergoing a series of long-awaited renovations. The City of Beaufort recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the newly upgraded Pigeon Point Playground, and now attention is shifting to the nearby Pigeon Point Boat Landing project. After a critical review of the conceptual design from residents in May, city officials suggest the newly revised designs will be ready for review later this month.
The boat landing was identified as an “emerging priority” on the Capital Projects List at the Strategic Planning Retreat in January 2024, after Beaufort resident and volunteer with Beaufort Water Search and Rescue, Patrick Canning, presented his concerns regarding the poor condition of the dock. Since then, a temporary replacement has been put in place, but a permanent solution for boat landing is still in the works.
Davis & Floyd’s initial conceptual design was presented during the Quarterly Capital Projects meeting on May 27th. The design proposed several major renovations to the area, including the addition of a floating dock and kayak dock to the current pedestrian/fishing dock in Pinckney Park, an additional 100ft boat dock perpendicular to the original, and a fence surrounding the embankment. However, the response from Pigeon Point residents was overwhelmingly critical. During public comment, one neighbor described the plan as a blueprint to “completely eradicate any sense of place from this very, very residential landing.”
Other concerns focused largely on increased traffic and lack of parking, removal of natural resources, and the raised height of the landing. Several residents expressed that the conceptual design appeared more “consistent with Whitehall Landing,” one of Beaufort’s most popular boat landings, and was not fit for a small, residential neighborhood like Pigeon Point. Notably, the plan added only one additional parking space – raising fears that the nearby Christensen Park could become an overflow lot.
After hearing from residents, City Council directed Davis & Floyd to come back with a revised conceptual plan that better aligns with the community’s needs and scale. The updated concept is expected to be shared at the Capital Projects Workshop on August 26th. Mayor Phil Cromer closed the May meeting by thanking the Pigeon Point neighborhood for their active engagement in the project, which will help ensure that the landing is completed in everyone’s best interest.
A handful of Pigeon Point neighbors have gone above and beyond over the last year to keep their community informed on this project. They created a neighborhood association to oversee the project, hosted community discussions, went door-to-door, and shared information via a residential Facebook group. This level of involvement serves as a perfect example of how an engaged community ensures projects like this are completed to the benefit of all of Beaufort’s locals and visitors – protecting our character and charm while making room for thoughtful improvements.
The revised landing design will soon be back in front of the public, and thanks to the neighbors who have remained involved every step of the way, it is positioned to reflect more than just structural repairs – it will reflect a community that cares. As we continue planning for future projects in public spaces, the example set by Pigeon Point shows how much better the process can be when residents are seated at the table.
The full scope of the Pigeon Point Boat Landing project can be seen here. Beaufort Insider will continue to update on this project as it unfolds. Share your thoughts with us on Facebook.
