Marina project impacts peak season for Leschi waterfront businesses

What should be peak season for some businesses in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood is instead being choked off by a major marina construction project.

“It’s an 80-degree, sunny day. I’ve had two tables all day,” Bluwater Bistro owner Bart Evans said during Monday’s lunch rush.

Evans arrived at work to find chain link fencing stretched across the adjacent parking lot and practically across his front doors.

The fencing went up as part of the Leschi South Marina Wave Attenuator and Facility Improvements project, a $7.9 million effort led by Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Seattle Department of Transportation. The project will replace aging creosote-treated piles and a timber pier at the Leschi South Moorage.

The current phase — tearing up the parking lot to install sewer, water, and electrical lines — is being carried out by contractor Harkness Construction.

Leschi business owner told construction would take place during the fall

Evans claimed he and other business owners had been told the work would take place in the fall and that the parking lot would remain accessible in the evenings and weekends.

“They were supposed to meet with the local businesses to develop a low-impact plan, but they never reached out to us,” Evans said. “We struggle all winter just to get to this nice weather at the marina where we can make some money and save money for next winter.”

KIRO Newsradio reached out to Harkness Construction for comment, but it did not respond by Monday evening.

The renovation project is expected to last three months, consuming nearly the entire summer season.

“May, June, July, August, we can do half our revenue for the year,” Evans said.

Businesses forced to reduce staff during busy season

The impact extends beyond Bluwater Bistro. Leschi Market, a neighborhood grocery across the street, depends on the same parking lot. Both businesses have been forced to reduce staff, according to a press release issued by Evans.

“We get to the revenue season. We get to Mother’s Day week, the big week, and the city shows up [with] flatbed trucks with a chain link fence and shuts us down,” Evans said.

Evans said Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth, who represents the Leschi neighborhood, responded after he contacted her Monday morning and expressed concern about the impact on local businesses. KIRO Newsradio is awaiting a response from her office.

The city’s project page, last updated April 11, shows the contractor was scheduled to mobilize starting April 22, with breakwater and moorage construction anticipated for fall 2026.

Evans said he would like the work postponed to the fall, but acknowledged that it may be unrealistic. At minimum, he wants parking lot access restored evenings and weekends, and contractor equipment relocated away from business storefronts.

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