Commission OKs colorful breakwater project

Bill Prince’s vision of a colorful breakwater that would enliven the Port Washington lakefront is expected to be reality this spring.

The Harbor Commission on Monday unanimously approved Prince’s plan to paint the vertical walls on the west end of the breakwater various shades of blue to reflect the colors of the lake.

Prince has said the work would not only add to the beauty of the lakefront, it could also be a tourist attraction.

“It seems to me those concrete walls are screaming out for a simple, elegant large-scale art installation that would become something that would draw people to the lakefront — especially since so many more people are using the breakwater since it was improved,” he said when proposing the project.

“The selection of subtle pastel blues and off-whites would ensure that no matter the season or sunlight, one of the large walls would nearly match the hue of the water or the sky. For those of us who enjoy our unique waterfront, it seems like a neat way to reflect nature’s ever changing colors in this man-made structure, to turn something that’s essentially an eyesore into an attraction.”

While the commission had given its blessing to the project, it sought assurances the work wouldn’t become a maintenance burden on the city in the future.

“It’s all good news,” Prince told the commission. “The project has gotten simpler and cheaper.”

Prince, a local yacht designer, had originally proposed painting the breakwater panels with Rhino Shield, which is billed as a long-term ceramic coating for commercial and residential buildings and has a 25-year warranty. 

But since bringing the issue to the commission in September, he said, he has done additional work and discovered that Sherwin Williams has a paint made specifically for coating vertical concrete surfaces that are exposed to driving rain and harsh weather.

The cost is significantly less than painting with Rhino Shield, Prince said, estimating the cost, including labor and a brass plaque recognizing each sponsor, would be $11,515.

The prep work and painting would be done by Elegant Estates, a Port firm recommended by Sherwin Williams, Prince said, noting the paint company has a five-year guarantee and Elegant Estates has a one-year guarantee period.

He recently went out on the breakwater to inspect the concrete, Prince added.

“The walls are remarkably cleaner and smoother than I remember,” he said.

Prince gave the commission a list of 18 residents and businesses who have pledged $1,000 each to pay for the work.

“People heard about this and said, ‘I want to be part of this,’” Prince said.

With $18,000 in hand, he said, the city would have a reserve fund of $6,485 in hand when the project begins. 

“We would have years of maintenance and retouching in the bank,” he said.

And, Prince said, since the plaques would be mounted not on the face of the walls but on the ends, there is a potential to have two sponsors for each panel. That would double the income to $36,000 and significantly increase the reserve fund.

Port Main Street Inc. has agreed to hold the reserve fund in a dedicated account for the breakwater painting, Prince said.

Ald. Mike Gasper. a member of the commission, asked if graffiti could be washed off the paint.

That’s likely, Prince said, adding that because of the reserve fund the panels could also be repainted or touched up as needed.

“I think you’ve done a lot of good work,” commission member Dan Laurence said. 

Commission member Sue Knauer had one more question for Prince.

“How about painting the lighthouse beacon?” she asked. “It looks terrible.”

“That’s above my pay grade,” Prince replied. “That’s well into six figures.”

Prince said he expects the breakwater to be painted in spring, with work completed by June 1.