Petition Opposing Idea of Relocating Maritime Museum Gains Momentum

For the past month, a grass roots group of residents has been collecting petition signatures around town calling for the Maritime Museum to stay in the historic ferry building on Harbor Boulevard and not be relocated to Ports O’ Call Village if developers try to move in a restaurant or shops.

But that’s a big if.

A formal proposal to turn the landmark into something similar to the ferry building in San Francisco hasn’t been made, and there have been no talks between developers and the museum. The idea was brought up a few months ago by Alan Johnson of Jerico Development, part of the team overseeing the makeover of Ports O’ Call Village, and then spread like wildfire among residents who have reacted sharply against it.

“They have a really beautiful plan and we have nothing against it, but the only problem we have is moving our museum,” said Eli Wegger, a merchant seaman who has been collecting signatures outside of Vons for several weeks. “The museum is beautiful right where it is. The key — the real reason that fired us up, is the memorial that represents 6,800 merchant mariners who lost their lives during WWII. We feel it’s a duty that the museum that tells their story remain with the memorial.”

Wegger was one of dozens who turned out for the port’s annual waterfront meeting last month to voice their concerns. He said the petition, started by a handful of union members, is now nearing 4,000 signatures.

“Our concern is that the museum belongs next to the war dead. You can’t take one and leave the other without it.”

Johnson said relocating the museum is nothing more than an idea at this point and he never intended for it to upset so many residents, but at the very least, he has hoped to see a discussion about it.

“I just wish we could sit down and have a discussion about it and let people know that I’m not asking for the keys,” he said. “The fact that it’s upsetting people, I’m not happy about that. We’re having wide-ranging discussions about what’s possible, what’s down there and what would attract people, and this is all a part of that.”

The idea is that the ferry building’s location could be the much-needed key to breaking the wall of Harbor Boulevard and bringing tourists up into downtown, something that has remained a challenge despite increased visitors to the waterfront. Construction of the new downtown harbor water cut and town plaza, which could hold 10,000 people, should be completed by next summer. Additionally, some feel the museum could use upgrades.

At the Oct. 3 Board of Harbor Commissioners meeting, Vice President Dave Arian stressed that the museum falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Recreation and Parks, and not the Port.

Rec and Parks was unavailable for comment.

“I want to make it clear here publicly that as long as I’m around, that Maritime Museum is going to stay as it is, the monuments are going to stay, and we’re going to enhance the area, not decrease it,” Arian said.

The next public meeting on the redevelopment of Ports O’ Call Village will be at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Warner Grand Theatre.

Photo: John Mattera