PORT NECHES — Sometimes things just don’t work out as anticipated.

Officials in Port Neches hoped to develop some prime property at the city’s riverfront. Yet even with the success of the Neches River Wheelhouse restaurant, a master plan and two developers with grand ideas, the vision just is not feasible.

The city is now looking at options for the land, which is divided into two sections — Tract 1, which involves 13 acres and Tract 2, which involves about 37.2 acres.

A 2006-2007 master plan had the riverfront park being reconfigured, residential development, shops, a recreational vehicle area, large nature walk, marina, hotel and more. But while it was conceptually pleasing, significant funding for infrastructure remained.

“With the marina, it would need someone who wants to build and maintain a marina, which is a problem,” Port Neches City Manager Andre Wimer said.

Ideas

Wimer said there are several ideas for development of the riverfront.

“We can attempt to sell as a whole and the property would be developed by a third party,” he said.

But, he said, there would be somewhat less control over what goes in and the City Council has said they want to be consistent with the community as a whole.

Another idea is for the city itself to develop the land.

Developers Mike Bolin and Tom Frasier’s formal relationship with the city expired in mid-August and afterward council council went out and had the value of the land assessed.

Tract 1 is valued at $2.14 million, which comes to $163,385 per acre, while Tract 2 is valued at $1.87 million, or $50,511 per acre.

Streets

But the road to the riverfront does not involve a straight shot travel wise nor is it on a main thoroughfare, he said.

Some of the travel route might be remedied — the City Council previously approved the purchase of property diagonal from City Hall and this would allow the reconfiguration of Merriman.

Another issue would be to reconfigure the intersection of Merriman at Lee and widen the area.

But those ideas need funding.

Funding

Wimer said with the Port Neches Economic Development Corp., the prime consideration was that it would assist with the development of the riverfront property.

“The EDC has accumulated funding over the years that would now be available to fund the contemplated infrastructure improvements and that ties back to Grigsby, Merriman to Lee roadway,” he said.

City Council members discussed the issue recently and decided they are interested in moving forward on the project. Wimer said it is likely council members will see an item on the next agenda calling for an agreement for engineering services associated with infrastructure improvements.