Pompano Beach Fishing Village On the Way

July 11, 2017 | In News

It’s not just the addition of the ultra-luxurious Sabbia Beach condominiums that is helping to turn Pompano Beach into THE place to be. The city forefathers have been working overtime to attract the most upscale, fun, and inviting dining and nightlife to the area, turning Pompano Beach into a resort town that promises to be unique to South Florida.

Case in point: the Pompano Beach Fishing Village, 300 N. Ocean Boulevard, slated to complete the final phase of construction in the very near future. Part of an extensive oceanfront redevelopment effort north of Atlantic Boulevard, the Fishing Village will comprise 6,200 square feet of retail space and a four-level, 615-space parking garage. The site will also feature a tree-lined boulevard for pedestrians, who will be able to walk directly from the Intracoastal waterway to the Atlantic. When completed, the project will span more than six acres on the oceanfront, and include a total of 48,000 square feet of retail space.

Featuring a festival atmosphere, the architectural theme of the project is Old Florida Nautical, offering the typical relaxed, casual atmosphere of a beachside town during the day, and transforming to an upscale, night-out destination after sunset.

Adjacent to the walkway will be a 150-room, 5-story hotel. Fronting North Ocean Boulevard, the well-known Kilwin’s Ice Cream and Burger-Fi, along with Alvin’s Island Tropical Department Store (for retail/beachwear), are already in lease. On the beach itself will be the Pompano Beach House (a casual/upscale American grill and bar, operated by Anderson Real Estate, the same group that operates Grille 401 on Las Olas), and Oceanic Oceanfront Dining (fine seafood). The Pompano Beach House is expected to be completed by the end of this year. All these tenants promise to be especially welcome; since Hurricane Wilma destroyed the old Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant in 2005 there has been no waterfront dining available in the area.

And if all these great shopping and dining opportunities weren’t enough, the famous fishing pier itself is being completely redone in the shape of—what else—a pompano fish. Hurricane Sandy’ storm surge damaged part of the pier, but the new one will be four feet higher to accommodate rising sea levels, and nearly 70% wider.

Pompano Beach Fishing Village is the culmination of an effort that began in 2009. Other improvements have already been made, including more sidewalks, a workout area for adults and a playground for children. It will help transform Pompano Beach’s oceanfront into a “world-class destination,” Kim Briesemeister, a principal at Redevelopment Management Associates, told the Sun Sentinel.

 

NEW PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA
(Please note that everything is subject to change - info sources from various city and private sources.)

Water Taxi:

  • 11 stops for Pompano service, connecting with FLL service A signature metal archway will identify each stop
  • 1.5 hours from Northern-most taxi stop to FLL
  • Contract to prepare seawall fencing with archway entrance expected to be approved by city commission by July 11 or sooner
  • Service to start October 1, 2017
  • Two vessels to start - single deck each with bench seating
  • Occupancy 44-49 people including master and captain
  • One enclosed with A/C and bathroom, other fully open Service to be provided by: Pompano Water Taxi, LLC
  • Need to give a special name to the service.

From North to South, stops for scheduled service are expected to include:

  • Caps Place (West side of ICW)
  • Hillsboro Inlet Marina
  • NE 16. Street off of Riverside Drive
  • NE 141b Street at Alsdorf Park boat launch (W side of ICW) NE 12 Street near Marriotts
  • NE 2. Street (Pier Street Parking Garage) First slop lo be built. Sands Harbor Hotel & Marina
  • St. Martin’s Church (West side of ICW)
  • (and possibly Houston’s)
  • Madison’s Steakhouse - to break ground soon
  • Indian Mound Park
  • Benihana’s LBTS (possibly Kaluz on West side of ICW) Bokamper’s FLL
  • In addition to scheduled service, “whistle stop” service will be offered for those who call in to be picked up at docks or seawalls between stops along the ICW. No service will be available down finger isles for now, which could delay the scheduled service route.

Fishing Pier

  • Demolition is underway for new pier construction
  • Pier site is closed from May 22, 2017 to January 2019
  • Pompano Beach Blvd is now closed betwen NE 2 and NE’3. Streets until Thanksgiving Original bridge opened in 1964 and was designed Wast 50 years.
  • The new pier will don plaques “circa March 1964” when the pier officially opened, and “circa 2019” when the new replacement pier is opened.

Briney Avenue Improvements

  • Beach road from Atlantic Blvd to SE 8th Street
  • Completion August 2017
  • Enhancements include: Decorative street lighting (utilities underground)
    • Colorful “mosaic” patterns on street
    • Potted plantings
    • Improvements to beach entries at 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th Streets

 

New Hotels

  • Hampton Inn: 900 S. Federal Hwy Opening soon (Reservations says July 11) 102 rooms
  • Residence Inn by Marriott: Centerport Business Park Opens: June 2017 112 Rooms

Pompano Fishing Village

  • Six acres under roof, Square Feet: 48,500
  • Hilton Tru & Home 2 Suites (one building wing each) Opens: goal is mid 2019 Rooms: 150 total Limited facilities, no full-service restaurant Pool above hotel entry portico
  • Hilton Tru runs east and parallel to AIA Contemporary mid-scale hotel rooms, light breakfast buffet, 24-hour snack bar
  • Hilton Home 2 Suites faces south parallel to Pier streets Mid-scale all-suite extended stay hotel with kitchen and refrigerator, combo laundry and fitness facility

New Restaurants
Pompano Beach House (and rooftop bar) — casual for steaks, chops, burgers and salads (to be operated by same people as Grille 401 on Las Olas)

  • On the sand just north of the Pier Opens: around this Thanksgiving
  • Style: Nautical Key-West style
  • Capacity: Around 200, 2 stories with outdoor terrace on East side
  • Size: 6,700 square feet
  • Facilities: Banquet room on second floor with ocean views

Shipwreck Park
After last July’s successful sinking of the 324-foot Lady Luck in 120-feet of water just one mile off the coast of Pompano, the not-for-profit Shipwreck Park, Inc. is preparing for a second sinking to further its mission as an underwater cultural arts and eco park. Lady Luck is the centerpiece of Shipwreck Park, surrounded by 16 older wrecks that make up this significant artificial reef system.

Now introducing the 107-foot Okinawa, being cleaned up and prepped now for a possible sinking late this summer. This vintage tugboat was built for the Army in 1953. It slept 16 people and was in service until 2001, when it was purchased by United Dredging Company for its purposes and then recently sold to Shipwreck Park, Inc. Plans are to bedeck her in underwater artwork and then sink her in 60-feet of water just one-half mile offshore. She will be easily accessible to divers of all skill levels as well as snorkelers.

GREAT NEWS!!!! VISIT FLORIDA will receive full funding after a four-month battle, but not without conditions. The Florida Legislature has approved a $76 million budget for the state’s tourism promotion agency - the same as in fiscal 2017. While it is below the $100 million proposed by the governor, it is well above the $26 million first approved by the legislature. The final budget deal imposes new rules that allow the legislature to review any contract over $750,000 and which require all public money for the organization be matched one-to-one by private contributions.