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Go to WHAM TV 13 for Video Report
Developing The Port With (Or Without) The Ferry
Mike Doria (Rochester, NY) 12/16/05 -- The winter-like weather doesn't exactly draw people to the lake and the recently announced shortened ferry season doesn't help, but a development firm is working on attracting visitors to the Port of Rochester in Charlotte, especially during the colder months.
On Thursday, Sasaki Associates met with the area's residents with the goal to make the area the place to be year round. Ideas in development include a hotel, more shopping, and a greater variety of eating establishments.
Next year, the fast ferry will stop operations in October, right before the weather turns cold.
Varoujan Hagopian of Sasaki Associates, said that the ferry is just one piece of the puzzle, and that the company is looking at the overall picture. He'd like to see the operation succeed, but also points out that Charlotte survived all these years without it and will deal with whatever happens.
"It's nice to have it, we'd like to see it continue, but if for one reason or another it disappears, downsizes, or doesn't run as often, we'll deal with," he said.
While the ferry improved the cash flow in the area, business owners want more than just international visitors; they want locals.
Marie Poinan of the Charlotte Business Association said, "We need to get some attractions here to bring people here in January and February, which is normally a slow season for the businesses…Everyone will prosper--once everything is in place."
Solid ideas aren't expected to take shape until February.
Part of the reason the ferry won't run in the winter is likelihood of fewer tourists and visitors from Canada. Ferry operators see better opportunity with making money off the ship in warmer climates during the colder months.
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