Schmid Marina Interested in Possible Purchase by New Baltimore

and New Baltimore officials agree that the city buying the waterfront land could be ideal for both parties.

The problem? There's no money in the city budget for the $5.9-million purchase.

Therefore, New Baltimore officials are looking into grant opportunities.

"The Schmid Marina location doesn't look viable at this time until we find out about grants," Councilman Ken Butler said at the Monday night council meeting.

Co-owner Tom Schmid said early this week that, although the city has not contacted the family about potentially buying the land, the owners are interested in selling it.

However, Schmid knows finding and securing grants would take time, making a potential sale "a long ways away," he said.

In recent weeks, City Council authorized Mayor Larry Smith to because of its prime waterfront location.

The 12-acre commercial property on Taylor Street has been on the market for the past couple years. It is listed on Remax as "fantastic opportunity for lake and canal development" with potential for mixed-use developments, such as condos, restaurants and even houses.

Schmid said the marina has been a family business since the early 1960s and remains operational while on the market.