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:

Facade and Beautification Grant Programs Suspended

The BCRA's Commercial and Residential Facade and Beautification Grant Programs have been suspended for the remainder of the fiscal year, due to all of the allocated grant funds being committed.

Evans Center Approved for

Community Contribution Tax Credit Program

The Evans Center Project located in the Driskell Heights area of the Bayfront Community Redevelopment District has been approved by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to participate in the State of Florida's  Community Contribution Tax Credit Program. Businesses anywhere in Florida can apply for a tax credit of up to 50% of the value of their contribution. This opportunity applies to businesses that pay Florida Corporate Income Tax, Florida Insurance Premium Tax and businesses that collect and remit Sales Tax. This approval allows the Evan Center, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization to boost their efforts to raise capital funds to build a multi-use building housing a market/deli, classrooms for youth job training and a satellite health clinic serving the Driskell Heights and Powells Subdivision Neighborhoods in northeast Palm Bay and south Melbourne where the Evans Market once operated.  For more information please contact Lynn Brockwell-Carey, Brevard Neighborhood Development Coalition (BNDC):  321-253-4214.

2nd Bayfront 5"K9" Fun Run and Walk Held on December 4, 2011

The BCRA helped the Palm Bay Animal Clinic by sponsoring the 2nd Bayfront 5"K9" Fun Run and Walk on Sunday, December 4, 2011.  Two hundred (200) runners, and walkers of all ages with their dogs took part in the event.  Participants ran, jogged, and walked with their beloved pet dogs along the 5 kilometer long course throughout the Bayfront area.  Money raised from the event will go to help Brevard County's animal shelters.

2nd Phase of the R.J. Conlan Boulevard Landscaping Project Completed

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 involved the west side of the right-of-way between Northview Street and Palm Bay Road and was completed November, 2011. Palms, Crape Myrtles and Pine Trees were be planted. The BCRA will fund additional landscaping to the Palm Bay Road - R.J. Conlan Boulevard intersection, which is being advertised for construction bids.

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US-1 Streetscape Project Delayed

US-1 Streetscaping - Although a Notice to Proceed was granted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on October 31, 2011 to start the US-1 Streetscape Project.  The project is on hold due to portions of the sidewalk needing to be relocated to the west away from the shoreline after the construction survey layout indicated that the shoreline has moved westward from the original plan location done in 2007.  The construction survey also indicated that erosion has occurred near the culvert outfall by Bay Boulevard which requires the proposed bridge span to be revised.  Soil boring tests were performed due to the bank erosion and it was determined that due to the soil conditions, deep pilings would need to be used to support a bridge.  Due to these conditions an extended pipe and headwall backfilled with the sidewalk over top will now replace the proposed pedestrian bridge.  The Agency's Engineering Consultant, Baskerville-Donovan, Inc., has revised the sidewalk location and has replaced the proposed bridge with the extended drainage pipe plans.  The revised sidewalk and extended pipe plans have been forwarded to FDOT for approval.  Work will begin as soon as approval is granted.

The US-1 Streetscape 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 pedestrian street lighting. The City and BCRA have been awarded a $650,000 National Scenic Byway Grant to assist the BCRA in the construction of the project. To see a copy of the US-1 sidewalk, lighting, and landscaping design plans please click on the highlighted words "US-1 Streetscaping" at the beginning of the paragraph. To see an aerial plan of the "Baywalk" portion of the sidewalk please click on the following: Baywalk Aerial Plan. 

THANK YOU

Lagoon House Volunteers

On Saturday, October 22nd volunteers joined Anglers for Conservation, the BCRA, other community groups and individuals for a volunteer day at the Lagoon House at 3275 Dixie Highway, NE, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.  Activities included cutting back overgrown vegetation, planting new vegetation, mulching plant beds and painting the Lagoon House porch railings.  Together the volunteers spruced up the Lagoon House, a cornerstone of the Palm Bay Community and a historical and environmental showcase for Brevard County.

Castaway Point Park is OPEN

Improvements to Castaway Point Park are complete. The park is now open. Improvements to the park include a pervious asphalt road and driveway setback from the water, pervious handicap parking spaces, crushed coquina parking spaces, storm water retention facilities, paved pathways connecting the park to U.S.-1 and Castaway Cove Beach, L.E.D. pedestrian and pier lighting, a pavilion, recycled plastic park benches and trash receptacles, and native landscaping. The BCRA was awarded a $60,000 Florida Coastal Management Program grant to help provide access improvements and reduce stormwater pollution at the park. 

US-1 Phase 2 Sidewalk Grant Awarded

The BCRA was awarded a $150,000 National Scenic Byway grant for the second phase of a sidewalk along the east side of US-1.  The approximate 2,400 linear foot sidewalk will be located between Ridge Road and Port Malabar Boulevard.  Eight (8) months have been scheduled for design and permitting.  Construction is anticipated to begin in April 2012.  The walkway will have three (3) spans over drainage flumes.  A conceptual rendition of a possible span design is found below.

Water System Improvements

Funded by the BCRA

Potable water lines in the Farview Neighborhood were upgraded from 2 inch lines to 6 inch lines with BCRA funds.  The work was completed in May, 2012.  The Farview Neighborhood is the second neighborhood to take part in the City's N.I.C.E. Program.

Water system improvements that included water line upgrades, water line interconnects, new fire hydrants and additional fire hydrants were installed in 2011 along Palm Bay Road and in the north Tillman Subdivision Neighborhood with BCRA and Palm Bay Utilities funds.

City Creates SMART Areas for Economic Development

As part of an aggressive Economic Development Program to assist existing businesses expand, to help create new businesses, and to make Palm Bay competitive with adjacent cities in Brevard County and other cities in the State of Florida, the City of Palm Bay has designated four (4) areas in the City as Sustainable Market and Reinvestment Target (S.M.A.R.T.) Areas.

One of the SMART Areas, the Riverview SMART Area, includes a large portion of the industrial and commercial areas of the Bayfront Community Redevelopment District (BCRD).  By creating the SMART Areas, property owners in the designated areas, including those in the BCRD, can take advantage of state financial and economic incentives to help in either redeveloping or developing their properties. Learn more.

Neighborhood Investment Cooperative Effort (N.I.C.E) 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. The north Tillman Subdivision was the first neighborhood to take part in the program. A neighborhood clean-up was held in April, 2009.  Neighborhood issues involving paving, drainage, landscaping, police activities and utility improvements were worked on. A tree adoption program was held in the spring of 2010 where residents could adopt either an Oak, Crape Myrtle, Royal Poinciana, or Magnolia tree and plant it at their property.  Neighborhood improvements have included the construction of a pervious parking lot at the northeast corner of Main Street and Hessey Avenue, the creation of a neighborhood green space at 1644 Main Street, and the paving of local streets.  Water line and fire hydrant improvements were completed in January, 2011. Drainage improvements were constructed along Main Street and the FEC Railroad tracks in 2011.  A vegetative buffer along the railroad tracks is the remaining improvement to be done.

The Farview Subdivision is the second neighborhood to be involved with the program.  Two (2) neighborhood meetings have been held in 2011.  Drainage and water line improvements are planned. Other neighborhood improvements are being considered.

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

Palm Bay Road Streetscape Plans - 30% drainage and design plans for Palm Bay Road between US-1 and Robert J. Conlan Boulevard have been completed by the Wade Trim, Inc. 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, L.E.D. street lighting and landscaping.  The BCRA has contracted with the Wade Trim Engineering Consulting firm to draft 100% design plans 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.