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:
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. 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. Construction documents will now be developed and grant opportunities explored. 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.
30% Design Plans for Palm Bay Road
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.
Main Street City Hall Renovation - Construction has begun on the renovation of the Main Street City Hall. On September 4, 2008, the City Council awarded a proposal for construction to Canaveral Construction to renovate the original City Hall located at 1575 Main Street. The building will become the home of the East Precinct of the Palm Bay Police Department. The building was damaged by the hurricanes of 2004. Insurance, FEMA reimbursement and City funds will pay for the renovation. Completion of the renovation is estimated to take place by June of 2009. To see an elevation of the proposed renovation, click on the above title.
Robert J. Conlan Boulevard Beautification - The first phase of the Robert J. Conlan Boulevard Beautification project has been completed. The contractor installed underground electrical conduit for future street lights, removed exotic vegetation from portions of the right of way and planted vegetation along the entire east side of the right-of-way, the west side of the right of way north of Northview Street and the medians. New landscaping included Sabal Palms, Slash Pines, Firebush, Saw Palmetto, Dune Sunflower and Red Flowering Crepe Myrtles. 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 starting around February/March of 2009. LSP Nursery of Palm Bay is the contractor and Wade Trim, Inc. with a Palm Bay office was the project designer.
Castaway Cove Beach Park - The BCRA is proud to announce the completion of the Castaway Cove Beach Park Project located just north of Castaway Point and Castaway Point Park between Bay Boulevard and Kirkland Road. Improvements at the scenic site which is home to the signature bent palm tree that is depicted in the BCRA's logo, include a paved walkway with accent pavers, decorative pedestrian lights, beach access steps and handicap ramp, a shelter building, two (2) interpretive signs that tell the history of the City's first inhabitants, the Ais Indians and the Palm Bay Pioneers and native landscaping to help prevent erosion. A ribbon cutting ceremony occurred on Thursday, June 5th at 1:00 p.m. at the site. Photos of the event have been posted in the BCRA Photo Gallery.
US-1 Streetscaping - 90% engineering design plans for the streetscaping of US-1 have been submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The project will include the first phase of a sidewalk along portions of the east side of US-1, the landscaping of selected medians, and street lighting. A pedestrian crossing at the intersection of US-1 and Port Malabar Boulevard is also being designed. 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. The US-1 - Port Malabar Boulevard Pedestrian Crossing Plans can be viewed by clicking on the following: Port Malabar Ped Crossing.
Palm Bay Road - Main Street Gas Station - A state approved contractor as part of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection petroleum clean-up program has removed the underground gas tanks and contaminated soil at the vacant gas station located at the corner of Palm Bay Road and Main Street on June 16, 2008. The remediation work has been completed and the groundwater is now being monitored from test wells at the site. The first round of tests found no contamination. Three (3) more quarterly tests are needed with negative results before the site will be given a clean bill of health. Once the site is clean, ownership is proposed to be transferred from the present owner to the BCRA. Structures at the site will be removed and the property will be used for future road improvements.
2898 Palm Bay Road Gas Station Clean-up in Process
Water Drive Closure at U.S.-1 Intersection - City Council approved the closing of the intersection of Water Drive and US-1 due to traffic safety concerns. A right turn lane has been constructed to allow traffic traveling southbound on US-1 to turn onto Hessey Avenue and then access Water Drive. Brewer Paving & Development, Inc. of Cocoa constructed the improvements. The project has received final inspection approval from FDOT. The BCRA funded the improvements in the amount of $113,000. |
