By Kate Kimmel
Construction on Fernandina Beach’s long-planned marina redevelopment project is expected to begin by the end of August, with city officials telling stakeholders Tuesday that the marina will remain operational throughout the approximately 18-month construction period.
The City of Fernandina Beach hosted its first stakeholder meeting on the project Tuesday, where project manager Glen Akramoff presented construction plans and the project timeline while Marina Manager Chris Ferguson answered questions about marina operations, public access and construction logistics.
The marina redevelopment is one of the city’s largest capital improvement projects and is intended to replace aging waterfront infrastructure while improving the marina’s long-term resiliency. The project includes replacing the deteriorating seawall, dredging the marina basin, demolishing the former Brett’s Waterway Café building and reconstructing marina facilities, including new docks and support infrastructure.
Construction is expected to continue through Dec. 3, 2027.
The redevelopment project is intended to address significant deterioration along the city’s waterfront. According to city documents, the marina’s existing seawall is approximately 100 years old, and officials believe its tie-back support system has rusted through. The replacement seawall will also be built to better withstand rising tides and future flooding.
The project will also remove the former Brett’s Waterway Café building, which closed permanently on Oct. 4, 2025, after 41 years of business. City documents state the building’s foundation has deteriorated and portions of its piling system have fallen into the Amelia River, creating both safety concerns and disruptions to water flow.
The work will begin with relocating boats from construction areas before demolition of the former Brett’s Waterway Café building. Crews will then rebuild the seawall, dredge the marina basin and complete reconstruction of the marina facilities.
The City Commission approved a construction contract with Baker Consulting & Engineering, LLC, doing business as Baker Design Build, for approximately $9.66 million during its July 21 meeting. Including construction administration, inspection services, contingency funding and other project costs, the total redevelopment budget is estimated at approximately $12.53 million.
In addition to replacing sections of the seawall and dredging the marina basin, the project includes construction of an over-water pier, new docks and marina infrastructure intended to modernize the city’s waterfront facilities.
The project’s estimated cost of $12.5 million will be funded through a combination of grants and city funding sources.
A state resiliency grant will reimburse the city up to $4 million for seawall construction, while a Florida Inland Navigation District grant will cover up to 50% of eligible dredging costs. The city will also use $7 million from its line of credit, $1.5 million in paid parking revenue and funding from marina operations.
Despite the extensive construction, Ferguson said the marina will remain operational throughout the project.
Boats currently located in areas affected by construction will receive temporary slip assignments and will be relocated before Aug. 18. Some slips typically leased to transient or seasonal boaters will instead be used to accommodate displaced vessels during construction.
Fuel service will also continue during construction. Ferguson said a temporary fuel barge will be positioned between Docks A and B so boaters can continue refueling while the permanent fuel dock is rebuilt.
The marina ship store and the project’s construction office will operate from the building currently used as the boaters’ lounge.
Akramoff said the most significant construction challenges involve deteriorated conditions beneath the former Brett’s Waterway Café building and unknown conditions associated with the existing seawall.
“The conditions underneath Brett’s are so bad that engineers won’t even go down there,” Akramoff said.
Much of the discussion during the meeting centered on public safety during construction.
One resident questioned how the city plans to protect visitors, noting the marina’s popularity with both residents and tourists.
“We have a lot of tourists who go down there,” the resident said. “Signs won’t be enough.”
Akramoff said the city and contractor have already discussed site safety and will develop a comprehensive safety plan before construction begins.
The plan will include a covered pedestrian walkway to maintain public access to the marina during construction. Cameras will also monitor the work area, and the city is considering implementing controlled public access hours while construction is underway.
Stakeholders also questioned whether the project would be completed by its anticipated Dec. 3, 2027, completion date.
Akramoff said the construction contract allows 478 calendar days to complete the work and includes financial penalties if the contractor exceeds that schedule. While weather and unforeseen conditions could affect the timeline, he said he does not anticipate significant delays unless the project encounters extraordinary circumstances.
Questions were also raised about how demolition debris and dredged material will be removed from the site, particularly whether heavy trucks would travel through downtown on Centre Street.
Akramoff said contaminated or other “non-clean” material will be transported by barge rather than hauled through downtown. Any trucks required for land transportation will instead use Ash Street, which is expected to reopen before marina construction begins.
To keep the public informed throughout construction, Akramoff said an on-site inspector will prepare daily reports documenting project progress. Weekly summaries of those reports will be posted on the city’s website. Akramoff said that the main points of contact throughout the project would be Ferguson and Downtown District Coordinator Katie Newton.
kkimmel@nassaunewsline.net
