Emergency Beach Renourishment    Bids were opened last week for the emergency renourishment of Lido Beach and through a combination of FEMA, State of Florida, Sarasota County and City dollars, the $3.9 million necessary for this project is in place and we're ready to begin moving sand this fall.   

 

Those who have walked the beach recently have witnessed the extreme erosion firsthand. We've been very fortunate to get this far into hurricane season without a significant storm pummeling the shore, resulting in more lost beach and leaving the nearby infrastructure vulnerable or even damaged.   

 

January 2015 - The most recent Lido Beach renourishment

 

Our goal is to get the project moving as soon as possible, and the selected contractor will be required to start no later than November 14.    

 

Sand will be pumped from New Pass, where it has been building up, and moved to Lido Beach.  Approximately 150,000 to 200,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed from North Lido Beach to South Lido.  We anticipate this emergency short-term fix will be mostly in place by February 2019. 

 

The long-term project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

	Col. Andrew D. Kelly, Commander, Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and City Engineer Alex Davis Shaw reviewing the project partner agreement during the 2018 Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association Conference.

will begin next September or Fall 2019.  Just last week, our City Engineer Alex Davis Shaw, who has doggedly shepherded the long and short term renourishment projects for years, signed the project partner agreement with the Army Corps.  This provides a funding source for Lido Beach renourishment for the next 50 years, with sand being recycled to the beach when necessary-- approximately every five years.  This is a very significant initiative which will move us away from responding to storms on a crisis basis to long-term planned, reliable shoreline protection.  As sea levels are predicted to rise and weather patterns are increasingly volatile, this initiative could not have occurred at a more critical time.       

Living Seawall - Installation Soon   We're excited to announce installation is scheduled to begin next month on the much anticipated living seawall at Bayfront Park adjacent to O'Leary's.

 

This project is an excellent example of supporting local business and local innovation.  Created by Reef Innovations, based in Sarasota, the living seawall will be comprised of 34 marine-friendly concrete modules designed to slow and absorb wave action and reduce shoreline erosion.  The reef-like modules are created with crevices and holes cut into them to attract a variety of fish.  So, as we recover from the devastating effects of red tide on our marine life, this living seawall is expected to help restore and enhance the volume of fish along our Bayfront.

 

The living seawall has been lead as a partnership between our Sustainability program and Public Works Department, specifically Stevie Freeman-Montes, Mike DelRossi and Bob Heggan.  We appreciate the work of Larry Beggs and his team at Reef Innovations for his impressive operation and efforts towards environmental sustainability.  Todd Barber of the Reefball Foundation and Vera Z. Cole have been critical to the design of these modules that not only have environmental benefits but also integrate artwork to highlight our native species. 

 

Surrounded by living reef modules.  L to R:  Vera Z Cole, Littoral Artist; Tom Barwin; Todd Barber, Reef Ball Foundation Chairman; Stevie Freeman-Montes, Sustainability Manager

Installation of the living seawall will be dependent upon the weather and red tide effects, but as of this writing, crews will begin staging Monday, October 8.   The placement of the living seawall is set to begin the following day, October 9, with the project wrapping up within a week. Bayfront Park and O'Leary's will remain open to the public during the installation.   

 

Once in place, our partners at Mote Marine Laboratory will study the biology, water quality, sediment structure and wave energy and compare that information with baseline readings taken before installation. This scientific data will help us better understand the impact and performance of the living seawall and guide future shoreline protection projects, especially as we consider options for adaptation to climate change. 

 

St. Armands Garage - On Schedule     A significant construction milestone was achieved last week with the St. Armands Garage -- it was topped off at four parking levels with the moment commemorated with the temporary planting of an American flag.  

 

Vertical construction for the St. Armands garage is now completed.

A total of 470 precast concrete structural components were used for the project and now crews will focus on the interior of the structure .  When finished, approximately 500 parking spaces will be available -- 5 EV charging stations -- 2 public restrooms, two elevators and 3 open stairways (with an unique exterior stair enhancing safety and a quick exit from the garage), and an interior lightwell with a wraparound stair case offering a unique sense of place 

 

Under the guidance of City staff, project engineer Kimley-Horn, architect Solstice Architects, and construction contractor Jon F. Swift Construction/Haskell, the project is on schedule and the new parking garage is scheduled to open in December.