Palm Bay Marina Launches Expansion and Improvement Project

Space Coast Marinas is embarking on upgrades and additions at Pelican Harbor Marina located in Biscayne Bay in Palm Bay, Florida. The developer purchased the marina property from the city for $1.7 million in early August, and bought two adjoining private properties as well. Now the company plans to upgrade the current marina and build restaurants and retail on the six-acre property.

“There are 57 slips that we are going to reconfigure, and the majority of them will have lifts,” said Michael Timmons, a principal with Space Coast Marinas. The marina will feature a combination of the fixed docks that are there today and new concrete floating docks along the expanded bulkhead. These docks will handle boats up to 45 feet.

Timmons said the company hopes to have the necessary permits to complete the dock work by September. The new docks will include space for Paddling Paradise, which offers kayak and stand-up paddleboat rentals and tours. Timmons said that Freedom Boat Club has committed to coming into the marina as well.

“Everyone will be moved around as the project moves forwards, but the marina will be open for business,” he said.
On the land side, the developers hope to build a new two-story restaurant with a rooftop bar, retail facilities along Dixie Highway and an outdoor music venue.

Groundbreaking for that part of the project should take place in first quarter 2022.

Plans also call for construction of an all-enclosed, hurricane-proof dry dock storage facility that will accommodate between 200 and 300 boats up to 44 feet long, Timmons said. That will probably take a year or so to get underway. “It’s going to be very dependent on the state and how quickly we can get the permits, and that’s not usually a quick process,” he added.