by Brigid Sweeney
If a local entrepreneur has his way, Chicagoans will have an entirely new way to enjoy Lake Michigan and the city's warm-weather social scene next summer.
Beau D'Arcy wants to build a 300-by-100-foot floating vessel, nearly twice the length of the Odyssey yacht that operates cruises from Navy Pier, that would have a swimming pool, restaurants, bars, shops and a spa area — all slightly more than a mile out on Lake Michigan, due east of Erie Street and Lake Shore Drive. He says if all goes according to plan, the concept would be a reality by July 2015.
The $23 million project, called
Breakwater Chicago, would require about $7 million of equity, $14 million in debt financing and $2 million in working capital. Mr. D'Arcy says the project is close to closing an initial $1 million round of funding. He is launching a $30,000 Kickstarter campaign today through Seed Chicago, a curated Kickstarter page created through a partnership among World Business Chicago, Accion Chicago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140610/NEWS07/140609817/next-stop-for-fun-apool-equipped-barge-on-lake-michigan
