SEBASTIAN — Almost $100,000 separates the high and low bids among three submitted for construction of Sebastian’s long-awaited Working Waterfront Fish House.
At the Jan. 8 bid opening, Close Construction of Okeechobee came in with the high bid of $516,763 while Ferreira Construction of Stuart presented the low bid of $416,990. C &D Construction of Cocoa submitted a bid of $498,000.
The fish house will be located at the city’s commercial marina behind Crab- E-Bill’s Indian River Seafood fish market (the former Hurricane Harbor) on the site of the dilapidated, original fish house, which was heavily damaged in the 2004 hurricanes.
It will be a highlight of the city’s Working Waterfront.
The scope of work includes an open air, covered fish processing structure – fish house, ice house and hatchery – pier rehabilitation and site improvement work.
The new fish house will have the same 1,870-square-foot footprint as the original and the same basic “pole barn” type structure.
A boardwalk from Crab- E-Bills to the docks, including benches and an information kiosk, and a series of piers will allow visitors to observe a real working fish house operation, as local commercial fisherman bring in and process the day’s catch.
Visitors will then be able to purchase fresh fish and have it prepared for them in the eatery at the fish market.
After staff reviews and compares the three bids and ensures all the bid document requirements are met, they will bring a recommendation to the City Council, possibly at the second regular council meeting of the month on Jan. 28.
When Council approves a contractor, a project timeline will be established and construction can, at last, get under way.
In the years since The Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever grant program was created by the Legislature in 2008, the City has made plans to revitalize its waterfront along Indian River Drive, focusing on the area’s rich fishing history.
WWF grants can be used to acquire land for the purpose of commercial fishing operations or for educational, cultural or historic purposes connected with the seafood and aquaculture industries.
To that end, a “museum” project is being established at the same location under the guidance of County Historian Ruth Stanbridge, which will introduce visitors to Sebastian’s fishing village history.
