Rundown structures at Lakebay Marina demolished; pier and main building remain

Several buildings at the Lakebay Marina were demolished Wednesday, Jan. 20 following a lengthy dispute with Pierce County over the state of several dilapidated buildings.

The buildings that were demolished are three outbuildings, not the main marina building, pier or dock. The marina is in the process of being sold to the Recreational Boaters’ Association of Washington, which plans to turn it over to the state as a marine park.

In an email to The Peninsula Gateway, a county spokesperson said the boathouse, while not yet demolished, is still set to be taken down at a future to be determined date following a separate in-progress abestos abatement that requires a contractor’s assessment.

The demolition was originally supposed to take place in mid-December though had been delayed more than a month due to scheduling issues.

The county Planning and Public Works Department obtained an abatement order, which is an involuntary action taken against property that has become a danger to the public.

Pierce County Council Member Derek Young told The Gateway in December that the structures were in a state of disrepair.

“The buildings are falling down and covered in blackberries,” Young said. “They’re only structures in the loosest sense of the term, which is also why there is a nuisance abatement happening.”

Owner Mark Scott, who declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday, penned a Nov. 28 Facebook post calling for public protest.

No protests materialized and the structures were torn down without incident. All demolition debris was initially run through the Purdy Transfer Station and will ultimately be disposed of at PCRCD/LRI’s 304th Street Landfill.

Reach Chase Hutchinson at chase.hutchinson@thenewstribune.com

This story was originally published January 20, 2021 at 3:17 PM.