Clear Lake council approves changes in Surf District waterfront connection

CLEAR LAKE — The Clear Lake City Council last night approved a change order that makes a slight alteration to the Surf District Destination Iowa project due to higher than expected bids on portions of the venture.

As part of the improvements, it was originally proposed that a waterfront connection be made between the lake and the Surf, utilizing the properties straight across the street from the ballroom’s front entry with a visitation-type dock being placed there similar to the one at the Sea Wall. 

City Administrator Scott Flory says that now will be moved to Beach Drive, which runs into the lake on the west side of the Three Stars Plaza.   “Over these last two years we’ve had a lot of dialogue between the owner of the white house and the Fox House property. Unequivocally, the decision was made that it would be that the lake connection, by all parties, would be made much better at the Beach Drive point as opposed to trying to ‘pigeonhole’ in a walkway, it would be much better served over at Beach Drive.”

Flory says state officials have approved the change in the project.  “They are very acceptive of this change. They understand that these projects have been coming in significantly over what the original estimates are and that we have to make decisions based on that to right-size the spending if you will, so they understand that’s what we are doing. They are supportive of a lesser version of what we had contemplated between the Fox House and the white house over at Beach Drive.”

Flory says the positive thing about the Beach Drive spot is closer to the Music Enrichment & Immersive Center.   “From the lake to the front door of that building is closer from Beach Drive than it was when we put together the application that we didn’t contemplate the location between the Fox House and the white house, so it’s closer to get to that from the Beach Drive location. So even though it seems like it’s further to the west there, it’s actually closer to the front door by not much but by about eight feet or so.”

The entire Surf District project is being partially funded through a $4.37 million Destination Iowa grant as well as a $400,000 Community Attraction and Tourism grant.