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WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Treasure Coast News - City sets sail on Ft. Pierce marina makeover

City sets sail on Ft. Pierce marina makeover

FT. PIERCE, Fla. -- The historic downtown Fort Pierce Marina, in need of serious repairs. But now there is a new a beginning for the community. Fort Pierce was hit hard by both hurricane eye walls in 2004. The damage was so severe it was featured on CNN and Time Magazine.

It's been eight years in waiting to rebuild the downtown marina. Tonight, the process is finally underway.  Since the 2004 hurricanes the plan has always been to rebuild the marina in downtown Ft. Pierce. The problem was FEMA.

After the destruction in 2004 from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, FEMA held the funding, saying until the city of Ft. Pierce could show they could protect a new marina from hurricanes. There would be no federal funds to move the project along.

Mike Reilly/Tiki Bar: It is a little comforting knowing with those barges out there, business is on the way.

Reilly says the barges outside the restaurant at the Fort Pierce Marina are symbolic.

The new marina is finally coming. The plan is to build several small barrier islands surrounding the marina to protect it form a massive surge like we saw in 2004. The city launched the project Thursday. The new marina will be home to a host of national fishing tournaments.

Mayor Bob Benton/ City of Fort Pierce: They spend thousands of dollars a week on gas, hotel rooms, it's just an amazing impact on the downtown and local businesses.

A massive economic driver, the boating industry's estimated impact on the Treasure Coast is $8 billion a year. New protective islands mean a new marina. A new marina means more boats, and boaters spend money.

Reilly: It is going to bring business not only for us but the marina itself and the business owners around town that are in downtown Fort Pierce.

The project should take 18 months to complete and should be ready for boaters by 2014.

The new mini islands will not be open to boaters or the public. The will only serve as a protection for the new marina.City sets sail on Ft. Pierce marina makeover

Thursday, May 10 2012, 07:44 PM EDT

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