Porto Bodega sold
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007 --------- On the market for since 2002, Porto Bodega Marina and RV Park has been sold.
Escrow is expected to close Wednesday, Jan. 31. The new owners will take over operations on Thursday, Feb. 1.
The new owner is Richard Battaglia of Newport Beach. Battaglia is also the owner of the Harbor View subdivision.
Battaglia bought that subdivision two years ago. Battaglia runs a real estate empire through several subsidiaries with 100 percent ownership of about 2700 units from Arizona to Hawaii. Battaglia is also the designer of numerous theme parks. His firm is an architectural and engineering consultant and operator of existing and proposed parks throughout the world. His projects range in size up to $2 billion.
Battaglia spokesman Philip Young said, in a telephone interview with the Navigator Wednesday, the company would ultimately present a master plan for improvements for the entire 15-acre property.
Young said he was looking forward to working with the current Park manager Connie Bennett. He said he really appreciated her candor and dedication. Managers from the Battaglia are expected at the Park Monday to make a detailed inspection.
Young also said, their conversations with County of Sonoma Planners and Supervisor Mike Reilly were positive and led to their final decision to purchase the property.
Young also said, he was very aware of the role Porto Bodega plays in the low-income housing market in Bodega Bay. He said, whenever he had a meal in Bodega Bay he always asked the server where they lived. They all live out of town.
The Porto Bodega Development Company owned and operated the business including the marina, the trailer park and RV Park. The Sandpiper Restaurant is part of the sale of the ground. The Restaurant is a separate business leasing space from Porto Bodega. The asking price in 2002 was $4.9 million. Young said that they settled on a price less than that but did not reveal the final sale price.
The property is 15 acres and includes the 72-slip marina, 59-space RV park, 34-space mobile home park, five cabins and two houses, the Sandpiper building, office buildings and the bait shop.
Known during the last century as Mosher’s Camp, the eventual development grew around a bend in what was then Bay Flat Road. Later dredging of marsh area became a boat slip area. Fill from dredging created the area alongside the creek that is now the mobile home park.
In 1975 Hans Schroeder bought the property and started operating as Porto Bodega. After destructive floods in 1983, lawsuits between the County and Porto Bodega tangled the operations. Eventually Schroeder became a limited partner. Robert Higa became the general partner. The County took back a portion of the tidelands leases and now operates the Sportfishing dock space and parking lot through Spud Point Marina.
