WATERFRONT
ally, they settled on the idea of constructing a chain of islands
curved around new outer docks.
“Other areas of Florida have done that, but none have done
it the way we wanted to,” said Ed Seissiger, who has served
as project manager and coordinator for the city since the project’s
20
inception. “The others used rubble. We wanted to put
habitat on the islands.”
BEST CONFIGURATION
The first hurdle was to come up with the best possible
configuration — the number of islands and their size and
shape. After a model of the final design was made, Seissiger,
Kubitschek and others trekked to Canada in February 2007,
to a giant pool to test how well it would stand up to wind
and waves.
It was cold — as much as 15 degrees below zero. Seissiger
said he’d never been so cold in his life; Kubitschek, who hails
from the Colorado mountains, allowed that it was extremely
cold on at least one day of the three-week trip.
The results were worth the discomfort. Weeks of testing
led to modifications in the island design which also, as it
happened, kept the project within its $9.6 million budget.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is paying for
the islands.
By August 2009, the city had approval from the state
Department of Environmental Protection but still had a long
way to go before the Army Corps of Engineers would agree
to allow the islands.
“We’ve been working with the corps since then,” Seissiger
said in December. “We didn’t expect it to take this long. We
applied to both agencies at once. But the Corps waited for the
state to go first and then raised almost the same issues. For
the last six months we’ve been going over issues we thought
were resolved two years ago.”
>>
TIMELINE
The history
September 2004 – Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne destroy
143 slips at the marina.
February 2005 – Plans begin for the restoration.
November 2006 – Work begins on a model of the islands
that will protect the restored marina and downtown
waterfront.
February 2007 – The model is tested in Canada and modifications
are made.
August 2009 – The state approves permits for the project.
September 2010 – The Army Corps of Engineers declares
its intent to issue permits.
December 2010 – The Corps offers the city the permits it
intends to approve, along with restrictions and guidelines;
the Fort Pierce City Commission approves them on
Dec. 20.
The future plan
May 2011 – The city calls for bids.
August 2011 – Construction begins.
Jan. 2013 – The newly renovated marina opens for business.