No Suisun lighthouse yet, but beacon set to shine

Article Last Updated: Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 11:47:46 pm PDT

No Suisun lighthouse yet, but beacon set to shine

By Ian Thompson

SUISUN CITY - Suisun City Hall doesn't have its lighthouse yet, but it does have the lighthouse's light.

Mayor Jim Spering and the City Council will flick the switch on the lighthouse beacon at 7:30 p.m. as part of the city's Waterfront Festival today.

City Hall's announcement plugs the event as "the flickering promise of a rejuvenated downtown waterfront" and a public test of the 150-watt lamp that will have a maximum visibility distance of 23 nautical miles once the lighthouse is built.

The city plans to erect a 52-foot-high lighthouse on the east side of Suisun City's harbor, which would be an instant landmark and focal point for the Main Street West development project, supporters said.

Suisun City is in negotiations with Main Street West Partners on a plan to jump-start the redevelopment of the Old Town area.

"This lighthouse will be the landmark that guides people to Suisun City," Spering said. "Lighthouses have a long history of guiding sailors to safe harbors. This lighthouse will guide visitors to the vibrant destination downtown will become."

The lighthouse idea was conceived last year during community forums, where members said the waterfront needed a unique and distinctive symbol to promote it that would be visible from Highway 12.

ROMA Design Group designed the lighthouse. The council hasn't decided specifically how to pay for it, but councilmembers have said developers building in the Old Town may foot the bill.

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.