Vision Statement:

Administrator's Message:

Welcome to the Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency's (BCRA) web page.  Here are some recent news items about the Bayfront District that you may not be aware of:

Updated Redevelopment Plan

The City of Palm Bay and the Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency (BCRA) has updated its original 10-year old plan.  The revised Bayfront Community Redevelopment District 2024 Plan: "Creating a Bayfront Village on the Indian River Lagoon" will help the BCRA, City leaders, planners, residents and businesses to create a mixed use, pedestrian friendly, commercial-retail-residential village on the waterfront.  The updated plan was approved on February 18, 2010 by the City Council culminating a 7-month process involving citizen and key stakeholder input.  The plan provides recommendations for projects and programs in the approximate 1,070 acre district for the next 14-years.  To view a copy of the revised redevelopment plan please click here.

Palm Bay Road - Main Street Gas Station Demolished

The derelict vacant gas station at the corner of Palm Bay Road and Main Street was acquired by the BCRA in December, 2009.  The Agency had the structure demolished on January 13th and 14th, 2010.  The site will be held by the BCRA until funding for a proposed traffic circle and streetscaping of Palm Bay Road is available.

Palm Bay Road Re-surfaced

The BCRA has funded the resurfacing of Palm Bay Road between US-1 and Robert J. Conlan Boulevard.  The repaving was completed in January, 2010.

Ozzie's Crab House Now Open

The BCRA welcomes Ozzie's Crab House located at 4391 Dixie Highway, NE, to the Bayfront Community Redevelopment District of Palm Bay.  Ozzie's Crab House opened on December 22, 2009 after almost a year of remodeling what was once the Ridge Road House Restaurant.  Ozzie's will continue their tradition of good seafood and crabs in a casual-fun setting just as it did in Grant, Florida for the past twenty plus years.  Ozzie's Crab House joins a list of a number of eating establishments in Palm Bay's Bayfront providing  various cuisines ranging from Chinese, Japanese, Italian, seafood, continental, Irish-American, barbeque, and deli.

The Bayfront Welcomes New Veterinarian Owners

Dr. Don Cast, a longtime veterinarian and owner of the Palm Bay Animal Clinic at 3970 Dixie Highway, NE, in the Bayfront Redevelopment District since 1978 sold his practice to a young couple, Drs. Jennifer and Paul Sikowski this summer.  A combination retirement and "meet the new vets" party was held at Rooney's on Palm Bay Road, also in the Bayfront District, with about 500 people in attendance.  The Sikowski's have utilized a Bayfront Beautification Grant to install a new sign in front of the clinic at the corner of U.S. 1 (Dixie Highway) and Orange Blossom Trail.  The BCRA welcomes the Sikowski's to Palm Bay and the Bayfront.

Main Street City Hall Renovation -  Construction has been completed on the renovation of the Main Street City Hall building located 1575 Main Street, NE. The building renovation was done by Canaveral Construction. The building will become the home of the East Precinct of the Palm Bay Police Department. The original building was built in 1960 and served as the original city hall for 17 years. When City Hall moved, the structure has been the home at one time to the Engineering, Building, Public Works, Code Enforcement and Community Development Departments until the building was damaged by the hurricanes of 2004. Insurance, FEMA reimbursement and City funds paid for the renovation.  A ribbon cutting was held on Saturday, June 13th to rededicate the building. To see an elevation of the proposed renovation, click on the above title.

1575 Main St. Police East Precinct Building

Neighborhood Investment Cooperative Effort (NICE) Meetings with the Tillman Neighborhood - City Staff has met with the Tillman Neighborhood (north of Palm Bay Road, west of the FEC Railroad, and east of Al's Trophy Shop) 4 times in 2009 to obtain input and prioritize neighborhood issues as part of the City's Neighborhood Investment Cooperative Effort (NICE) Program. The NICE Program proposes to invest the City's federal and local resources such as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment, State Housing Initiative Program, Neighborhood Stabilization Program, and Redevelopment funds on a neighborhood basis instead of in a piecemeal fashion to make an impact on the neighborhood both structurally and aesthetically. A neighborhood clean-up was held in April, 2009.  Neighborhood issues involving paving, drainage, landscaping, police activities and utility improvements are being worked on.  View the Tillman neighborhood map boundaries.

Tillman Residents Take Part in a Neighborhood Clean Up Blitz with City Staff

Castaway Point Park Concept Plans Approved - On December 1, 2008, the Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency and the City of Palm Bay Recreation Advisory Board jointly approved a concept plan to improve Castaway Point Park.  Since that time 90% designs plans have been completed. Proposed improvements include a pervious parking lot; pervious, paved, and boardwalk pathways; a pavilion; educational signage; lighting; site furniture including benches, grills, and trash receptacles; landscaping and the upgrading of the existing restroom facility. The BCRA has applied for a $60,000 Florida Coastal Management Program grant. The Agency will find out in January 2010 if the grant is awarded. View the Castaway Point Park Concept Plan.

Palm Bay Road Streetscape Plans - 30% design plans for Palm Bay Road between US-1 and Braun Street have been completed by the Miller Legg Consulting firm.  The plans incorporate entryway features at US-1, a roundabout at Main Street, sidewalks and pedestrian cross walks, on-street parking at certain locations, and landscaping.  The BCRA will now have 100% design plans drafted for the entire stretch of Palm Bay Road in the Bayfront Community Redevelopment District from Robert J. Conlan Boulevard to US-1. There is no funding for construction at this time. The BCRA and City will try to obtain funding from grants or possibly issue a bond in the future to pay for the improvements. View architectural renderings of the 30% design.

Applications are now being accepted for the Matching Residential Facade & Rehabilitation Grant Program.

Single family residential home owners can apply for a reimbursable grant to renovate the exterior of their home.  Eligible improvements include:  windows, doors, awnings, porches, roofs, siding, paint, decorative fencing and landscaping.  Grant funds awarded require a matching dollar for dollar expenditure by the owner. The BCRA may match up to a maximum of $5,000. Landscape projects may be matched up to a maximum of $2,000.  Visit the BCRA office or click the above title to link to obtain an application and guidelines.

Robert J. Conlan Boulevard Beautification - The first phase of the Robert J. Conlan Boulevard Beautification project has been completed.  Underground electrical conduit for future street lights was installed. The second phase of the project involves the west side of the right-of-way between Northview Street and Palm Bay Road and will be completed after a sewer force main is constructed. The BCRA will fund additional landscaping to the Palm Bay Road - R.J. Conlan Boulevard intersection, which is anticipated to be completed by July 2010.

US-1 Streetscaping - Engineering design plans for the streetscaping of US-1 have been approved by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  A permit from the St. Johns River Water Management District for the sidewalk along the Bay is under review.  A request for proposals to construct the improvements will be issued as soon as St. Johns approval is granted.  The project will include the first phase of a sidewalk along the east side of U.S.-1 from Kirkland Road to Ridge Road, the landscaping of selected medians, and street lighting.   To see a copy of the US-1 sidewalk, lighting, and landscaping design plans please click on the above title. To see an aerial plan of the "Baywalk" portion of the sidewalk please click on the following: Baywalk Aerial Plan.