City leaders in Palm Bay are working toward a big waterfront restoration project that aims to lure young, high-tech workers to the area to live, work and play.

  • Palm Bay considering $2.6M project to restore old pier
  • Pier would include businesses, like a tiki bar and jet ski rentals
  • Palm Bay City Council to discuss project at 6:30 p.m. April 11

Hurricane Matthew's impact last fall is playing a large role in the project that includes bringing a century-old pier back to life.

Economic leaders in Palm Bay said that when the hurricane skirted the coast in October 2016, it eroded about 10-25 feet of marina shoreline in the area known at Turkey Creek Harbor.

"There was evidence of a pier that was here earlier," said James Marshall, who works in the city of Palm Bay's economic development office.

Way earlier, that is.

Research revealed the Tillman pier was constructed in 1886 and was later wiped out by a storm in 1922.

Officials didn't even know it had been there for all those decades. The only remnants were some pylons left at the water's surface.

"So, this idea of not only restoring shoreline, but also an historic pier," Marshall said.

The $2.6 million project would restore the shoreline and would also rebuild the 290-foot-long pier plus a boardwalk.

"We have the ability to build in amenities for the next generation of high-tech workers," Marshall said. "They want to live here, work here (and) play here."

Things like a tiki bar, personal watercraft rentals, paddle boarding — all private businesses operating on the pier.

It would be money going back into the local economy.

Palm Bay City Councilman Tres Holton is spearheading the effort.

"It takes a village to build a city, well it took the founders of Tillman and a beautiful natural resource that we now call ourselves now, Palm Bay!" he said. "The Historic Pier & Shoreline Restoration project located at the mouth of Turkey Creek/Indian River Lagoon is an homage and a manifestation of the mayor and City Council's efforts to concentrate on our roots."

Paul Caudill spends three to four days a week along the riverfront shoreline near the intersection of U.S. 1 and Palm Bay Road.

"Definitely a positive thing for the area," he said. "Fish, come enjoy the time in the water, enjoy the nice peace and quiet. The breeze, scenery."

So far, $250,000 for the project has been approved at the state level.

The Palm Bay City Council is holding a workshop to discuss the project at 6:30 p.m. April 11. 


An illustration of what the future pier would look like. (City of Palm Bay)