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New Olcott harbor breakwall project underway

$14 million project to address long-standing shoreline problems; Hochul says project will ‘transform’ Olcott community

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Progress on repairing the flood-ravaged shoreline in Niagara County took a big step forward in past days with the startup of a massive, nearly 400-foot, $14 million breakwall project in the hamlet of Olcott Beach.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was joined by Town of Newfane Supervisor Timothy Horanburg and a number of state, county and local officials in visiting the Hedley Boat Co. complex on the Olcott waterfront Tuesday to announce the project.

Decades in the making, the Olcott breakwall project moved forward and became reality in October 2019 with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s commitment to correct long-standing erosion problems along the entire Lake Ontario shore in New York, including Niagara County.

The Olcott project, to be completed with $13.3 million in state grants and assistance through the governor’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative, will see the creation of a 350-foot, oval-shaped breakwall in the harbor area at the mouth of Eighteen Mile Creek entering into Lake Ontario.

The project stands to directly benefit the Town of Newfane Marina, Olcott Yacht Club, Hedley Boat Co., McDonough Marine and several private homes, according to the governor’s office. In 2019, the harbor entrance was devastated by flooding, wind-driven waves, and sediment deposition in the navigation channel. High water levels, wave agitation and new sediment deposits prevented safe refuge and navigation by large and small recreational watercraft.

“After historic flooding devastated homes, businesses and infrastructure along Lake Ontario in 2019, New York has been leading the way to provide much-needed help to these communities,” Cuomo said. “Through REDI, we are not just rebuilding the shoreline's infrastructure, we are building back stronger and smarter for a more resilient future, and that's exactly what we're doing with this project in the Town of Newfane.” 

Eric Gertler, who serves as REDI co-chair, said the long-standing shore erosion problem “affected all areas of the Olcott Harbor, from private properties to municipal facilities and businesses. Going forward, this new breakwall will help lessen the damage from wave action, a vital step toward minimizing the risks associated with shoreline development and improving the quality of life for residents.”

The project, being undertaken by Sevenson Environmental Services of Niagara Falls, seeks to mitigate the negative impacts of extreme weather conditions on the harbor entrance. Its purpose is to further protect boaters, local businesses, and public/private properties that play a critical role in the local recreation/sport-fishing-based economy. 

Upward of 3,000 truckloads of boulders are now in the process of being trucked into the hamlet for the project, which is expected to continue into November, according to Sevenson officials.

“We are very excited that construction has begun on the long-awaited Olcott Harbor breakwater project,” Horanburg said. “On behalf of the town, I would like to thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his tremendous support, and the REDI Commission in assisting the town in moving this project forward. The governor's and state agencies partnership and guidance was priceless in the development of the plans and permitting of this project. The completed breakwater project will protect the harbor and allow for economic development in the Town of Newfane for decades to come.”

Kayakers mill about in Eighteen Mile Creek in Olcott adjacent to the new harbor breakwall project. (Photo by Terry Duffy)

••••••••

In her remarks, Hochul recalled the decades-long wishes of local officials for the breakwall to become reality.

“This does seem like the end to a very long journey. It’s been a long time coming,” she said.

Recalling her association as a legislative assistant with former U.S. Rep. John LaFalce’s office while a law school student, and of visits to the Olcott Beach area, Hochul spoke of the common wishes of the community from way back in the 1970s and ’80s.

“ ‘We need a breakwall; we need a breakwall,’ ” commented Hochul of the community’s wants she frequently heard from years ago.

Hochul spoke of the recent struggles the hamlet dealt with in 2017 and 2019 when historically high water levels throughout the Lake Ontario basin resulted in severe flooding, devastation and financial hardship. She called the 2017 floods a “100-year event,” that devastated Olcott and then returned in 2019. Hochul said the lake flooding experience – then exacerbated by contending with COVID-19 in 2020 – went on spur not only a community, but also a regional and state response to address the years of hardship.

“They talk about how ‘it takes a village’; well this took a town to bring back a community. And you led this (comeback),” Hochul said. “We’re going to be victorious with Mother Nature, and we’re going to win. This is one tough community. All of you have put up with so much: the flooding, the devastation (and) the impact on local tourism.

“I am really happy to be here at the conclusion of all these events and to celebrate what we are going to do here.”

Hochul went on to discuss the state’s plans that, once complete, would see the creation of an offshore oval-shaped breakwall for the Olcott harbor area at the mouth Eighteen Mile Creek. “This is going to be a $14 million project, with $13.3 million in state grants. We’re going to install an offshore, oval bubble mount breakwall, 350 feet in length.

“It will finally address the wave action and will be critical for public safety, our yacht club. I understand the impact on the boating community. I understand the impact this has had on the boating community, our fishermen, the people who store rent boats, the property owners.

“This is going to transform this community. I look so forward to coming back once this is done.”

Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Becky Wydysh agreed, calling the project a game-changer that will go miles to further economic activity in northern Niagara County.

“The Olcott Harbor breakwater project not only seeks to repair the damage from Lake Ontario flooding, but offers a chance to build back better and stronger, and open opportunities to extend the navigation season longer, and thereby increase economic activity,” she said. “This project is exactly why the REDI program is so important and why my colleague, Legislator John Syracuse, and Newfane Supervisor Tim Horanburg worked so closely with state officials to make it happen. The partnership between New York state and local governments on REDI projects is collaboration at its best.”

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Town of Newfane & Olcott, NY Waterfront & Marina

TOURISM SITE  |  WE'RE THE ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN  |  BOAT & FISHING SVCS The Town of Newfane Marina, situated in the mouth of 18-Mile Creek in the hamlet of Olcott Beach which opens into stunning Lake Ontario, has the designation of a deep-water port and a safe harbor of refuge. In 2012, Olcott Beach was named the “Ultimate Fishing Town” by the World Fishing Network.

MARINA DOCK/SLIP PRICING   - These prices are subject to change (unfortunately without notice). Our 70+ slip marina is complete with self-service gasoline, 24-hour restrooms which include a shower stall in each, and a pump-out station for those vessels that have a bathroom on board. And if that isn’t enough to lure you here, you can also process your catch at our fish cleaning station! Transient docking is also available. There is a waiting list for long-term docking and you can get on the list by following the instructions on this form you can download and fill in HERE .

Our pleasant staff is on-site to ensure you get your boat in or out of the water as quickly as possible. Jet skis and kayaks/canoes are also welcome. Our customer service center has a full display of tourist information including locations of great restaurants, wineries, breweries, our Carousel Park , Lakeview Shoppes , and other great destinations. And Olcott Beaches, Krull Park, and all the incredible experiences that await you are all within a 10-minute walk from the Marina. Call our Marina at 716-778-5462 for details. MARINA DOCK/SLIP PRICING - These prices are subject to change (unfortunately without notice).

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Hedley boatyard & marina.

Hedley Marina has been serving Niagara Country and Western New York for over 100 years. The marina is complete with transient and long-term docking, outdoor and indoor storage, boat repair, and even B&Bs to enjoy your stay in Olcott, NY.  There are even plans for a hotel. Check out their website for more information here .

Olcott Yacht Club

Founded in 1920, Olcott Yacht Club is located on the southern shore of beautiful Lake Ontario. Our members come from all walks of life and do not have to own a boat, or even be thinking about buying a boat to belong. They spread the excitement of sailing and boating through the area through youth and adult sailing instruction, club racing, and various club gatherings and events. Learn more here .

Boat Doctors & Tackle Barn

Everything you need for boating and fishing. Open 7 days per week.

McDonough Marine

1568 Lockport-Olcott Rd. Olcott (716) 778-7665

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Bayfront Miami condo tower embroiled in legal battle over major assessment

10 unit owners are suing the association and property management firm

• Katherine Kallergis

A bayfront Miami condominium in need of repairs is in a legal fight pitting unit owners against the condo association.

The 27-story, 235-unit Palm Bay Yacht Club made headlines last week over a proposed $46 million special assessment to fund repairs required for the property’s 40-year recertification. A group of 10 unit owners filed a lawsuit in October against the Palm Bay Yacht Club Condo Association, affiliates of the property management firm AKAM and other companies, alleging fraud and negligence.

The tower at 780 Northeast 69th Street was constructed in 1982 on a waterfront lot that includes a pool, sports courts and a parking lot.

In the lawsuit, unit owners allege that AKAM and the association knowingly made false statements about the scope of the project by including additional repairs beyond those required by the 40-year recertification, said attorney Jane Muir, who represents the 10 unit owners. The lawsuit alleges each unit owner would owe more than $175,000 for the repairs. It claims that AKAM is double-dipping and inflating the cost of the project, which AKAM denies.

An amended complaint, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in December, alleges that engineers hired by the plaintiffs found errors that had a combined cost of more than $11 million. It claims that the defendants “mismanaged, misappropriated, or facilitated the misappropriation of association funds.”

“Absent court intervention, defendants will encumber the residents with insurmountable debt, risking foreclosure and bankruptcy for many individual residents and for the association,” the lawsuit states.

Unit owners are seeking an injunction against the association, with the goal of having a receiver appointed to take over the association, according to Muir. An evidentiary hearing that began on Monday was postponed to later this week, said representatives for both sides.

“No matter what these 10 unit owners think, the work has to be done. It’s only limited as to what can or cannot be done,” said attorney Jonathan Bloom of Bloom & Freeling, who represents AKAM. “Don’t people want to go to bed safe?”

The dispute is also playing out in the court of public opinion, with the unit owners appearing on local TV news fighting the size of the assessment and how money allegedly has been handled.

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Increased scrutiny of the physical conditions of condo buildings in the 20 months since the deadly Surfside condo collapse has led many associations across South Florida to impose multimillion-dollar special assessments or increase homeowners association fees to pay for life and safety repairs. 

Palm Bay Yacht Club’s association estimated that the recertification — which is required by law in Miami-Dade County — will cost about $33 million, and that the cost to replace the windows and doors with storm impact windows and doors is $15.7 million. The building has received unsafe structure violations from the city of Miami.

Amid the legal battle, the board voted on Saturday to approve a loan to fund the $33 million recertification project. The association approved replacing the railings, but did not approve the impact windows and doors, according to a spokesperson for AKAM. The spokesperson declined to disclose the loan amount.

According to a letter sent to unit owners, an engineering firm found that the balcony railing system “reached its end of useful life,” and the railings no longer comply with the city’s building code.

“My clients do agree that the recertification must be achieved, and they also believe that some repairs must be done,” Muir said. “The problem is the scope of the project.”

Greg Main-Baillie, who leads the new condo restoration division at Colliers, said he expects more associations will face similar lawsuits in the wake of the Surfside collapse, as many condo owners don’t understand what it takes to maintain older structures. Main-Baillie compared an aging building to a person in need of surgery.

“Until you actually get into the area of infection, you really don’t understand how bad it is,” said Main-Baillie, who is not involved in Palm Bay Yacht Club. “In the buildings that haven’t maintained themselves, the cancer is going to spread.”

The letter the association sent to owners suggests the same, imploring owners to “properly repair and protect our investment.”

“We feel bad that unit owners are going to incur expenses,” Bloom told The Real Deal . “[But] when you buy a condominium, you take the good, bad and the ugly.”

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The best golf clubs in moscow: luxury, exclusivity, and entertainment.

By Walter Raymond

February 24, 2015

• The Best Golf Clubs in…

In Russia, the western concept of building architecturally beautiful golf courses filled with modern and luxurious amenities has found fertile ground. What was considered a frivolous pastime during the time of the Soviets has become the latest trend for the stylish set. These days, there are countless options around Moscow to practice golf, polo, ski, yachting, and other sports alongside 5-star hotels, luxurious country houses, and magnificent villas.

The game of golf is a sport that requires passion and expertise. It is also part of a culture that considers this pastime a synonym of social prestige and exclusivity. In recent years, the new Russian elite has turned to golf as a vehicle of integration in the era of globalization. Golf courses are also meeting and socializing spaces where Muscovite tycoons can relax and also seal business deals.

Golf Courses in Russia

The Moscow Country Club, Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club, Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club, and Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia are some of the most exclusive and elegant golf courses in Russia. Some of them have made it to the list of Top 15 golf clubs in the world, a source of great prestige for the country.

Moscow Country Club Moscow Country Club

The first 18-hole golf course built in Russia, Moscow Country Club, hosts the exclusive PGA European Tour. Located just eight miles from the city center, this luxurious facility was created by architect Robert Trent Jones Jr . The design takes advantage of a typical Russian birch and spruce forest to provide a natural environment of extraordinary beauty.

Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club

The Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club is 18 miles from the heart of Moscow, close to historical monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries. Designed by famed architects Paul and Dave Thomas , this 18-hole course is part of a complex that includes a yacht club, an equestrian center, and a health and wellness facility. Pestovo Golf & Yacht Club is Russia’s version of a classic country club with multiple attractions.

Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club

This park is among the best in Eastern Europe and was awarded the 2014 World Golf Award as the best golf course in Russia. Located 25 miles from Moscow, it is part of a vast complex featuring an 18-hole golf course, designed by Jack Nicklaus , a polo club and a mountain ski club with four tracks. The design combines classic Scottish, Alpine, and English features in a dreamy landscape.

Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia Zavidovo Golf Club, PGA National Russia

Less than 60 miles from Moscow, this golf course with a definite Scottish design is the only one in Russia recognized as a PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) from Britain and Ireland. Located in an ecologically pristine area on the banks of the Volga River, the Zavidovo Golf Club embodies the spirit and appearance of the legendary Scottish golf courses. Its many springs and streams, hills, forests, swamps and lakes justify its reputation as a very demanding circuit. Last year, it entered the exclusive club of the 15 best golf courses in the world.   ■

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Olcott Yacht Club

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