PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Money has been set aside to return Portsmouth’s pavilion to its intended design.
City Council voted Tuesday night to set aside $2.4 million to fund the replacement to the waterfront music venue’s mast and canopy. Back in May, engineers discovered a big problem with the main support that holds it all up.
Water caused a 10-foot crack in a main mast support. Several concerts had to be moved while contractors took down the canopy and released tension on the support.
The money comes from five different accounts that both the city manager and mayor say have excess funds.
- $1,715,000 from the Paradise Creek Bridge project.
- $224,000 in recognized interest on the proceeds of the City’s Series 2006C Bond Issuance.
- $250,000 from permit-restricted parking revenue at Willett Hall.
- $150,000 from the City Gateway Project (Project that aims to move city government off the waterfront.)
- $100,000 from the 801 Water Street Project (City Police HQ improvements)
The city has yet to reveal if they will reinstall the same 13-piece canopy that they took down.
This isn’t the first time the pavilion’s structure has had issues. Back in 2003, Hurricane Isabel shredded the pavilion’s single membrane canopy, so the city replaced it with the 13-piece canopy, so if there were a tear you wouldn’t have to replace the whole canopy.
Mayor Rowe said the council is hopeful the venue will be ready to use on June 1, 2019.