Flagler Beach commission advances 30% Beachwalk design, directs new concrete piles and masonry walls; trims roof and removes south beach stair

The Flagler Beach City Commission on Sept. 25 approved direction to staff and the design team to carry the Beachwalk and pier project forward at 30% design with several significant design decisions: new concrete piles rather than wholesale reuse of existing timber piles, reinforced masonry (block) walls in key locations, a reduced roof height and pitch, a flat promenade with no southern beach stairway and a series of value-engineering alternates to control costs.

Why it matters: The project sits at Flagler Beach’s signature pier and beachfront block and is being developed under a tourist-development (TDC) grant. Design choices will determine capital costs, long-term maintenance needs and the structure’s resistance to marine exposure and storm damage.

What commissioners decided - Pilings: Commissioners directed the design team to use new concrete piles for the new building footprint and promenade rather than rely on reusing aging timber piles. The design team had estimated timber reuse could extend the project’s cost profile short-term but carries an uncertain remaining service life. The commission favored a longer-life concrete foundation to match a multi-decade service-life for the new structures. - Wall/foundation material: With…