Door opens wider for Sailing Hall of Fame

Newport, RI (September 27, 2018) – The city of Newport took another step yesterday toward bringing the Annapolis-based National Sailing Hall of Fame to Rhode Island.

The Newport City Council approved a plan in how the Armory building (365 Thames Street) would be divided, providing the main floor for a not-for-profit museum and the second floor for an office suite, while the city retains ownership of the Newport Maritime Center in the basement and the beach area that is level with basement at the back of the property.

This decision followed the council approval on July 25 to sell the specified space in the Armory for $1.685 million. This latest approval allows the board of directors of the National Sailing Hall of Fame to vote in the next month on potentially moving to Newport.

David Elwell, a member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame, said it had more than $2 million and $625,000 in pledges. He said the organization would make about $1.5 million in capital improvements to the Armory building in addition to the $1.685 million purchase price. Elwell estimated the organization needed to raise about $1.7 million more.

The National Sailing Hall of Fame, founded in 2005, has been in talks for years to redevelop the state-owned property it currently leases on City Dock in Annapolis, MD. However, the board has been unable to raise enough money for the project it estimates would cost $9.5 million.

Beach area along Armory building.

Source: newportri.com