For immediate release
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (April 10, 2014) – More than 250 Riviera Beach residents, local officials and business leaders gathered on Thursday to celebrate the long-awaited groundbreaking for the redevelopment of the Riviera Beach Marina. Key members involved in the project, including Riviera Beach Mayor Thomas Masters, Riviera Beach city council members, Palm Beach County Mayor Priscilla Taylor, and executives from Viking Developers marked the occasion with a champagne celebration that finished with Riviera Beach CRA Executive Director Tony Brown “popping” a bottle of champagne to officially launch the project. The transformative, 26-acre redevelopment of the city’s marina district is a $375 million public-private partnership between the City of Riviera Beach, the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and Viking Developers LLC as the private partner.
The groundbreaking marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the city’s history, and opens the door to approximately 500 construction jobs over the next three years and an estimated 2180 permanent jobs.
“This project will truly transform the city’s marina, one of the most spectacular waterfront locations in all of South Florida,” said Councilmember Judy Davis, Board Chair of the Riviera Beach CRA. “This will be an economic game-changer for the city and its residents. The success of the Marina District and the ongoing improvements along the Broadway Corridor are literally changing the face of this city. We will attract visitors in higher numbers than ever before, and that will spark the kind of economic development that will allow this great city to reach its potential.”
The first phase of the project will include the new, two-story Riviera Beach Event Center with a main ballroom called Newcomb Hall that seats up to 300 people; plus smaller meeting rooms for community and civic groups; a full-service restaurant; café; and a rooftop terrace offering sweeping views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Atlantic Ocean and Peanut Island. The first phase also includes a $4 million makeover to Bicentennial Park, including a covered area for a portable stage, an interactive fountain, concessions, and more. Improvements will also be made to the infrastructure at the marina to accommodate the marina village.
The development subsidiary of New Jersey and Riviera Beach-based Viking Yachts, called Viking Developers, is the master developer. It will lead the effort with its strategic partners to recruiting restaurants, retailers and additional investment. The private investment in the projects totals over $336 million; the CRA’s investment is $39 million.
“We have pursued this development with great perseverance and determination. The Riviera Beach community is passionate about the public’s access to the marina,” said Bob Healey, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “When we’re finished, we’ll have a dynamic waterfront for city residents that will attract visitors from around Florida and beyond. We are proud to create something that will be a legacy for future generations and will be a job generator for local residents.”
The public is welcome at the groundbreaking ceremony. For more information about the marina redevelopment, contact the City of Riviera Beach CRA at 561.844.3408.
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Contact: Tony Theissen
O’Donnell Agency
(561) 832-3231