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Atlantic Avenue design‑build moves forward for central segment; council asks for value engineering and wider input
Summary
City staff and the design‑build team presented 30% designs for Atlantic Avenue’s central beach segment and a construction plan funded mostly by the Tourism Improvement Fund; council asked for more value engineering, detailed cost breakdowns and public outreach before committing additional funding.
City staff told council Tuesday that a design‑build contract is in place for Atlantic Avenue improvements and that the project’s central segment — the area most visible to visitors and residents — can be reconstructed with currently programmed Tourism Improvement Fund (TIF) dollars, but completing the full 40‑block corridor would require substantially more funding.
"Atlantic Avenue is the Beach Main Street," Deputy Director Emily Archer said, summarizing the project’s purpose: increased pedestrian space, safer bicycle lanes and improved streetscape and tree canopy.
What council heard
- Scope and phasing: The project divides Atlantic Avenue into three segments between Fifth and Fortieth streets. The presentation focused on Segment 2 (central beach) — roughly seven blocks around the oceanfront — where staff said full pavement and streetscape replacement is needed. The design‑build team has produced 30% designs for that central area and expects to begin construction work in fall 2025 for that segment.
- Funding: Staff showed the project as TIP/TIF‑funded with $48.1 million programmed; at 30% design the estimated remaining funding needed to complete the entire corridor rose significantly, producing a projected full‑corridor cost in the order of $108 million (the central segment accounted for nearly half of that estimate at the 30% level). Staff said they expect to pursue value engineering as designs are refined.
- Design elements: The preferred section increases sidewalk area for pedestrians, adds dedicated bike lanes, provides pull‑off zones for the trolley and transit stops, and uses soil and tree‑well technology to grow larger canopies. Raised intersections and removable bollards for seasonal street closures were also shown to improve safety and event flexibility.
Council reaction and guidance
Some council members supported beginning the central segment with existing funds but urged caution because the 30% estimate showed the central seven blocks consuming a large share of the program. Several members requested additional value engineering, asked staff to provide more detail on why costs concentrate in the central blocks, and requested broader stakeholder engagement with hotel owners, businesses, the Bayfront Advisory Commission and neighborhood groups. One member suggested a short‑term cosmetic treatment across a larger stretch of Atlantic Avenue to establish a consistent look while the full capital project is refined.
Next steps
Staff asked council whether to proceed to final engineering and a fall 2025 construction schedule for the central segment, to pursue more aggressive value engineering before committing further funds, or to pause and revisit direction at the upcoming council retreat. A public open house is planned for Jan. 30 at the Convention Center to show the 30% concepts and collect feedback.
Why it matters: Atlantic Avenue is the city’s primary oceanfront promenade and the streetscape investment will influence tourism, business access and long‑term resilience. Council signaled support for moving forward with careful cost controls and robust community outreach.
