Mayor Johnson joins developers, stakeholders for update on long-stalled Navy Pier Marina opening

Wednesday’s full news conference can be viewed in the video player above.

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson joined developers and stakeholders of the long-stalled Navy Pier Marina on Wednesday morning to offer an update on the upcoming opening.

The $22 million project, which was fraught with delays, is finally scheduled to open in June.

Wednesday’s press conference began at 11 a.m. and in addition to the mayor, speakers included Navy Pier Marina developer Randy Podolsky from NPM Venture LLC, Navy Pier President and CEO Marilynn Gardner as well as Israel Idonije from the Academy Group.

Construction began last year and the new marina, which will be located on the north side of the pier, is expected to hold around 150 boats.

The marina will be “transient,” meaning boaters can rent space for a day or more, but will not have permanent slips.

The highly-anticipated opening comes after nearly a decade of delays due to political opposition.

The idea for the project was first pitched in 2016, and at the time, the project was approved at every level of government from the federal Army Corps of Engineers to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Chicago City Council. But then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration refused to issue the construction permit over concerns about the project’s proximity to the Jardine Water Purification Plant.

The project kicked back into gear after Johnson took over as mayor, however, and his administration agreed to issue the required permits.

The marina is already accepting bookings and prices start at $40 an hour.

The marina will be “transient,” meaning boaters can rent space for a day or more, but will not have permanent slips.

For more information, visit www.navypiermarina.com.