The estimated cost of redeveloping the ageing waterfront marina in Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA, has grown to $12.53 million USD, making it the largest capital construction project in the city’s history.
According to the news outlet Fernandina Observer, city commissioners received their first “comprehensive” look at the redevelopment plans during a workshop at the city hall commission chambers on Tuesday 7 July. Local government documents detail that the presentation on the redevelopment was given by city staff and representatives of Passero Associates, a US engineering and architecture firm.
Plans will go to the city commission for approval on 21 July, after which construction would begin in mid-August. Brett’s Waterfront Cafe would be demolished before the end of 2026 and the full redevelopment would be completed by 3 December 2027.
As reported by Fernandina Observer, deputy city manager Glenn Akramoff said the original simple demolition project evolved into a complete marina reconstruction after engineers determined that other ageing infrastructure would need to be replaced in the future.
He said that the expanded scope of the project now includes: constructing a new resilience bulkhead wall, building a new central public pier and marina walkway, expanding public access to the waterfront, improving marina operations, installing an upgraded fuel distribution system, removing more than 60 ageing pilings, improving river flow beneath the marina, reducing future dredging needs, creating additional dockage that will generate new marina revenue, and opening the Centre Street view corridor to the river.
Two optional boardwalk extensions were omitted from the recommended package to reduce costs, however city staff noted that they could be reintroduced to the proposals later without significantly increasing future construction expenses. Included in the $12.53 million budget is a 15 percent contingency to the high-risk seawall excavation as well as a further 10 percent to the remainder of the project due to unknown conditions beneath the waterfront cafe and along the waterfront.
The CEO of Passero Associates, Andrew Holesko, added that redesigning the marina will reduce in-water obstructions, and that the combination of fewer pilings and round support columns should improve tidal circulation and reduce sediment buildup.
The marina will also remain open during construction to minimise disruption, while marina staff will relocate into temporary office space and commercial tenants will be moved to temporary kiosks.
