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Marina District

Special Report: Waterfront Development

Project for Public Spaces (PPS): Waterfronts can

become vibrant assets to cities by changing how they

are used and managed. PPS stresses that the key to a

successful waterfront is developing a vision where the

layering of activities and uses creates a whole that is

“greater than the sum of its uses.” In waterfront

projects from all over the world the PPS works to re-

integrate waterfronts (many of which have been

blocked off by highways, train tracks, or fenced-off

industrial facilities) into surrounding neighborhoods.

For many cities, defining a waterfront’s identity can be

a huge challenge. Some waterfronts, for instance, have

become privatized with residential development, while

others are limited to one-dimension uses like ball fields

or grassy lawns. When one particular use is allowed to

dominate, the long-term potential of the waterfront is

degraded. Ultimately, to be successful, the spaces

along a waterfront need to both be important public

spaces in their own right and part of a larger network

of community and citywide destinations.

The City of Riviera Beach and the

Community Redevelopment Agency have

established the goal of creating a unique

successful waterfront destination at the

redeveloped City Marina. Working with

our master developer Viking, Live Work

Learn Play Consultants, and

Elkus/Manfredi Architects, we have met

with community residents & stakeholders

and developed plans for a new vibrant

redevelopment project. The Marina

Redevelopment Project will seek to create

opportunities for recreation, tourism and

entertainment that will help to strengthen

the local economy. The project will

enhance public access to the waterfront

and provide public and private

opportunities for job creation and create a

regional destination that will be catalytic

to the redevelopment of the entire CRA.

Scott Evans, AICP Director of Planning and Development

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In this Report:

Section 1: Creating a Great Waterfront Development (Page 2-10)

Section 2: Riviera Beach CRA Plan & Citizen’s Charrette Master Plan

(Page 10-13)

Section 3: Marina District Project Schedule (Page 13)

Section 1: Creating a Great Waterfront Development

As more cities envision their waterfronts as lively public destinations that keep people coming back,

The Project for Public Spaces (PPS) outlines the following principles to make that happen. They are

not all hard and fast laws, but rules of thumb drawn from 32 years of experience working to improve

urban waterfronts around the world. These ideas can serve as the framework for any waterfront

project seeking to create vibrant public spaces, and, by extension, a vibrant city. PPS has published

a variety of waterfront development principles, the following are the best and most relevant to help

guide Riviera Beach’s exciting waterfront redevelopment project.

1. Look First at the Public Space

In planning a waterfront development, City

officials or a developer should begin by

envisioning a network of well-connected,

multi-use public spaces that fit with the

community’s shared goals. By orienting

waterfront revitalization around public

spaces, new construction will enhance the quality

of existing destinations and result in a whole that

is greater than the sum of its parts. While streets may be appropriate on some waterfronts,

pedestrian connections should be given top priority over vehicular uses.

Developers of the Point Street Landing development on the

Hudson River in Yonkers, N.Y. began their project by determining

what the character of the public spaces should be.

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2. Make Sure Public Goals are the Primary

Objective

Waterfronts everywhere are too valuable to simply allow

private development interests to dictate what happens

there. This is not to say that private development is

unwelcome and should be discouraged – on the contrary,

it is often necessary to the future of a healthy waterfront.

The best solutions for revamping waterfronts put public

goals first. As long as redevelopment plans adhere to the

notion that the waterfront is an inherently public asset, it

will be relatively easy to follow the rest of the principles listed

Below, community engagement – and, ultimately, local

ownership and pride, depend on this basic premise.

3. Create a Shared Community Vision

Unlike a master plan, a community visioning process does not lock a project into a prescribed

solution. It is a citizen-driven initiative that outlines a set of goals–ideals to strive for–that set the

stage for people to think boldly, make breakthroughs, and achieve new possibilities for their

waterfront. Because a vision is adaptable and can be implemented gradually, starting with small

experiments, it often becomes more powerful through time as public enthusiasm for making bold

changes gains support. The City of Riviera Beach started with a week long charette process that led

to the Citizen Master Plan for the area. The Citizens Master plan was incorporated into the adopted

CRA Plan and the vision for the redevelopment of the Marina District is listed in Section II of this

report.

4. Build on Existing Assets and Context

Granville Island has created an abundance of user-friendly

destinations while preserving the site’s industrial character.

After establishing the public spaces and public

goals, begin the public visioning process with

the existing assets and surrounding context.

Start with the historical form and function of

the site to foster a locally grounded identity by

channeling former vibrancy into a variety of uses. Existing industrial uses should be preserved when

compatible with human activity on the waterfront. Surrounding neighborhoods should be integrated

into the waterfront to strengthen connectivity between destinations. New development should

embrace its waterfront context with appropriate orientation and usages.

Successful waterfront destinations reach out to

entire community, as happens with Paris Plage, a

month-long celebration that creates a beach to the

Seine River in Paris.

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5. The Water Itself Draws Attention

The water itself is the greatest asset of any waterfront, and should become the centerpiece for

programming and activities. This can include traditional marine uses such as a ferry terminal or

fishing port, which helps preserve a place’s identity. Additional activities may include water-taxis,

boat tours, restaurants or bars on anchored boats, fishing, floating pools, kayaking and swimming.

Many of these activities not only attract users to the waterfront but also generate interest among

onlookers. Embracing the natural uses of a waterfront leads to thematic programming such as boat

festivals, fish markets, bait and tackle shops, and performances on floating stages.

6. Maximize Opportunities for Public Access

It is essential that the waterfront be accessible for everyone to the greatest extent possible. Here

too, the goal of continuity is of paramount importance. Waterfronts with continuous public access are

much more popular than those where public space is interrupted. Even small stretches where the

waterfront is unavailable to people greatly diminish the experience. California’s Balboa Island,

located off the coast of Newport Beach, makes its entire shoreline accessible to the public instead of

giving waterfront property owners sole rights of use. Access also means that people can actually

interact with the water in numerous ways, from swimming and fishing, to picnicking dockside and

feeding the ducks. If it is not possible to actually dip their hands in the water, people should have

access to another type of water nearby, such as a fountain, or spray play area.

Waterfront fish markets contribute to the identity of

Oslo’s Aker Brygge Waterfront.

Water polo matches played in kayaks has emerged as an

intriguing attraction at New York's Frying Pan Bar and

Restaurant on the Hudson River in Manhattan.

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7. Iconic Buildings Serve a Variety

of Functions

Iconic, attention-grabbing buildings that

reflect a human scale and do not detract

from the surrounding context can be a

boon to the waterfront, so long as they

serve a variety of functions. On a recent

weekend morning in Stockholm, the

busiest building along the waterfront was

surprisingly, the City Hall. Surrounded

by a plaza, park, and courtyards, this

landmark shares its slice of the waterfront with a pier where boats embark on waterfront tours.

Clearly, this City Hall (where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each December) is more than a one

dimensional icon, it is also a good neighbor exhibiting a strong sense of place. Today’s iconic

buildings should strive to achieve the same flexibility and public-spirited presence.

8. Creative Amenities Boost Everyone’s Enjoyment

The best waterfronts feature amenities that increase people’s comfort and enjoyment. A bench or

waste receptacle in just the right location makes a surprising difference in how people choose to use

a place. Lighting strengthens a square’s identity and can draw attention to specific activities,

pathways or entrances. Public art is a great magnet for people of all ages to come together. Whether

temporary or permanent, amenities help establish a comfortable setting for social interaction.

Paris's Plage's benches comfortably accommodate

social groups of various sizes.

Water features on Granville Island create an

alternative connection where direct access to the

water is not possible.

Stockholm's City Hall is not just the 'seat' of local government.

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9. Access Made Easy by Boat, Bike

and Foot

Waterfronts flourish when they can be

accessed by means other than private

vehicles. In Sydney, Stockholm, Venice,

Helsinki, and Hong Kong, people head to the

waterfront via boat as much as by land. You

can dramatically enhance the character and

experience of a waterfront when it is easily

reached in ways other than driving. Access

by foot and bike are a crucial element of the transportation mix, which

is why many of the most beloved are crowned by

pedestrian promenades and bike lanes. People

feel more at ease when not overwhelmed by traffic and parking lots, creating a climate that fosters a

full breadth of waterfront activity. Where streets are absolutely necessary for commercial deliveries,

or access to retail or marine uses, they should be designed to minimize their impact on pedestrian

safety and enjoyment, and be able to be closed for events and festivals.

In Porto, Portugal’s Ribiera district

streets are scaled for pedestrians, and

motor vehicles allowed only as

guests.

The harbor in Stavanger, Norway is

dramatically enhanced by water-borne

transit.

Water-transit provides a prominent connection at Dubai Creek.

In Porto, Portugal’s Ribiera district streets are scaled for pedestrians,

and motor vehicles allowed only as guests.

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10. Local Identity is Showcased

The greatest waterfront destinations are found in cities that truly orient themselves to the water.

Venice and Stockholm are defined by their waterfronts, and residents and visitors alike naturally

gravitate there. Making the most of local identity, history and culture stimulates widespread interest

in the waterfront and creates a unique sense of place. Frequent opportunities to appreciate local art,

music and theatre helps draw a community together around the waterfront.

11. Balance Environmental Benefits with Human

Needs

While a wide variety of uses can flourish on a

waterfront, many successful destinations embrace

their natural surroundings by creating a close

connection between human and natural needs.

Marine biologists and environmentalists today

promote the restoration of natural shorelines, at least

where marine uses do not dominate, and advocate

replacing crumbling bulkheads with natural vegetation

that will improve water quality, and revive fish and

wildlife habitat. But this natural restoration should not preclude human use. Boardwalks, interpretive

displays, and even more active uses such as playgrounds and picnic areas can be incorporated into

the shoreline design without sacrificing environmental benefits.

Boardwalks, such as this one in Cleveland,

provide opportunities for people to interact

with wildlife along natural shorelines.

Brooklyn's Coney Island has developed

its own unique image over the years.

Brooklyn Bridge Park uses public art to offer fun

lessons.

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12. Start Small to Make Big Changes

Good public spaces don’t happen overnight, and no

one has all the answers about improving a place right

at the outset. Placemaking is about doing more than

planning. Many great plans get bogged down

because they are too big, too expensive, and simply

take too long to happen. Short-term actions, like

planting flowers, can be a good way not only to test

ideas, but to also give people the confidence that

change is occurring, and that their ideas matter.

13. Design and Program Buildings to Enhance Public Space

Any building on the waterfront should boost activity in

the public spaces around it. Ideally, there should be a

mix of uses, with seamless interaction between

inside and outdoors. High-rise towers that lack any

public uses on the ground floor are noticeably out of place along rivers, lakes and ocean fronts. They

usually create a wall that physically and psychologically cuts off the waterfront from surrounding

neighborhoods.

14. Create Multiple-use Destinations by Tapping the “Power of 10”

Through decades of work, PPS has

found that the most effective way to

propel a visioning process is to set a

goal of creating ten great destinations

along a waterfront, an idea we call the

“Power of Ten.” This focus on

destinations, rather than “open space”

or parks, enables a genuine

community-led process to take root.

Residents, businesses, community organizations and other stakeholders all join in to help identify

the key destinations and then define the uses and activities they want to see at each place.

After multiple place evaluation workshops, a variety of

community stakeholders, public agencies, and private firms

produced a collective vision for a broad range of uses to

draw people to Newark's waterfront.

Buildings on the harbor in Auckland, New Zealand

Temporary uses on Brooklyn's Pier 1 provide a

successful example of how low-cost

improvements can triangulate with their

surroundings to create great destinations.

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After using the Power of 10 to create great destinations throughout a waterfront, the same principle

should be applied at each destination to come up with a list of ten activities for that spot. A wealth of

things to do broadens the appeal of the destination, encouraging round-the-clock use.

15. Connect Destinations Along the Waterfront

Destinations should be connected to one another and incorporated into a vision for the waterfront as

a whole. A waterfront that is continuously walkable with a variety of activities along the way will

successfully link destinations, allowing the appeal of each one to strengthen the place as a whole.

Creating these seamless connections is a fascinating challenge that involves mixing uses (such as

housing, recreation, entertainment and retail) and mixing partners (such as public institutions and

local business owners). Another key element is attracting people to the waterfront on foot or bike,

rather than just in their cars.

16. Support Multiple Modes of Transportation and Limit Vehicular Access

Waterfronts are dramatically enhanced when

they can be accessed by means other than

private vehicles. Walking and biking are another

important part of the transportation mix, and

many of the best waterfronts feature pedestrian

promenades and bike lanes. Unimpeded by

cars or parking lots, people are more at ease,

and the full breadth of waterfront activity can

flourish. (Commercial deliveries to local

businesses are an important exception to this rule.)

17. Integrate Seasonal Activities into each

Destination

Rain or cold is no reason for a waterfront to sit empty.

Indeed coastal and lakefront places are often known for

their chilly winds and gray skies. Waterfront programming

should take rainy-day and winter activities into account,

and amenities should provide protection from inclement

weather. Waterfronts that can thrive in year-round

The seafront in Brighton, England on a

blustery day

The multi-modal Copacabana Promenade in Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil

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conditions will reap the benefits of greater economic activity and higher attendance at public

facilities.

18. Manage, Manage, Manage !

Ongoing management is essential to maintain

waterfronts and sustain a diverse variety of

activities and events throughout the year.

Waterfronts could adopt the model of the Business

Improvement Districts that have been so successful

in many downtowns. A “WID” could forge

partnerships between waterfront businesses and

organizations and those in the surrounding district,

so that waterfront programming–such as temporary

exhibits of local artists or music by local musicians–reflects the community and gives the place a unique

character.

Above direct references and source material from the Project for Public Spaces www.pps.org

(“10 qualities of a great waterfront destination”, “9 steps to creating a great waterfront”,

“How to transform a waterfront”)

Section 2: Riviera Beach CRA Plan CRA Plan & Citizen’s Master Plan Key Components

The adopted CRA Plan includes key components and input from the Citizen’s Master Plan that was

completed in 2008. Development of the Citizen’s Master Plan started with an intense week long

Charrette process that had over 300 residents participate in creating a vision for a new redeveloped

City. A vision process does not lock a project into a prescribed solution. It is a citizen-led initiative

that outlines a set of goals-ideals to strive for, that set the stage for people to think boldly, make

breakthroughs, and achieve new possibilities for their communities and waterfronts. A vision is

adaptable and can be implemented gradually, it is modified and enhanced as the details for each

new element and phase are created. The CRA Plan identifies some key elements and visioning

plans that represent the Citizens goals for redeveloping the area. These documents do not provide a

specific development proposal for the Marina. The new Concept development plan unveiled on

January 30, 2013 at the joint CRA/City Council Workshop provides the details for the new plan

which will seek to create and exciting waterfront destination, which is consistent with the principles of

waterfront development outlined in Section One of this report and with the main ideas and concepts

found within our adopted CRA Plan and the Visioning Process that created the Citizen’s Master

Plan.

Bogota's Simon Bolivar park is very well managed,

with uses and programs on and off the water.

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The Citizen’s Master Plan proposed some key redevelopment concepts for the Marina. The plans

and visioning drawings highlighted the need to create “eyes on the park” with adjacent residential

development and Newcomb Hall located prominently within the park. The New Master Plan includes

both adjacent future residential and keeps Newcomb Hall in a prominent location directly on the

south side of the park.

The Citizen’s Plan also highlighted the need to protect public access to the waterfront, create

attractive public spaces, and to create a visual corridor to the waterfront along 13th street. The

Charrette report identified the key community concerns as follows:

Bicentennial Park must be improved and maintained for fair public access.

The Riviera Beach Marina must remain accessible to the public.

Newcomb Hall, while a popular community asset, needs to be rebuilt.

If Newcomb Hall is rebuilt, it should be near its current location.

All of these key concerns were paramount in the creation of the new 2013 Master Plan.

Early Concept for 13th Street Entrance

Balustrades protect the hardscaped plaza from errant cars. Note the dining umbrellas and small retail building on the north (left) side of the plaza. The tower on the south (right) captures attention and entices people to walk to the water.

The 2013 Master Plan keeps the iconic public structure on the left

(proposed to be the future Newcomb Hall), and maintains the central 13th Street entrance. Similar to the graphic above, a central public waterfront plaza adjacent to the water and 13th Street with protection from vehicles is central to the Master Plan.

The Citizens Master Plan provided some direction for creating a new future Park and

Community Center:

Bicentennial Park is exceptionally well located right at the water’s edge facing Peanut

Island. However, (in the past) it was used primarily by vagrants, and undesirables. It has

undergone some temporary renovations to correct this situation. When walking through and

around the park, one immediately notices that there are no habitable buildings facing it,

there are no “eyes on the park.” One of the most important elements of urban design is the

notion of natural surveillance, that passers by will help if someone is in need. If there are no

passers by, or people looking out their office or apartment windows, then there is no natural

surveillance. This condition is especially true for parks and open spaces. Parks and open

spaces must have the natural surveillance of buildings and casual on-lookers otherwise they

become magnets for illicit activity.

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Newcomb Hall is a community hall used for social events such as dances, weddings, funeral

receptions. Located just south of Bicentennial Park and adjacent to the Tiki restaurant, the

use is in the right location although the building's condition and its precise location are

problematic for the future. There was strong community interest during the charrette to

rebuild Newcomb Hall in a waterfront location to maintain the synergy of uses around the

marina but also to ensure that public activities remain welcome there.

Main Ideas from the 2008 Citizen’s Master Plan

Improve and Expand City Marina

Improve Bicentennial Park

Increase the Prominence and Use of Newcomb Hall

Enhance the Working Waterfront

Improve Opportunities for Attracting Marine–Related Business

Mixed-Use Development Around the City Marina

Improve Public Access to the Waterfront

Redevelop the Ocean Mall

Improve the Look, Feel, and Investment Potential of Broadway/US 1

Establish Riviera Beach as Prime Destination for Tourists

Establish 13th Street as a Celebratory Entrance to the City and its Waterfront

Establish Additional City Parks

Capitalize on Blue Heron Boulevard and Broadway as a “Main and Main” Intersection for Riviera Beach

Attract New Residents to the City

Create Jobs

Improve the Walkability and Transit-Readiness of the City

Improve the Address of the City to Attract Developer Investment

Repair the Downtown and Waterfront Areas First and the Neighborhoods Will Follow

Re-establish Avenue C as a Continuous Street from 23rd Street to 11th Street

Continue the 13th Street Beautification/Entry Treatment West to Australian Avenue

Reserve a Mixed-Use Passenger Rail Station Site Along the FEC Railway at the intersection of Old Dixie and 13th Street

Improve and Expand the Boys and Girls Club and Maritime Academy at their current locations

Reduce and Reconfigure the Widening of Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard between Congress Avenue and Old Dixie Highway to Minimize Impact to the Surrounding Neighborhoods

Establish Better Access to the Port of Palm Beach

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Create a Better Transition of Live/Work Uses and Building Types along the Northern Boundary of the Port of Palm Beach between Old Dixie Highway and US 1

Retrofit the Mobile Home Parks along North Broadway

Better-Define Access and Use of the Public Beach

Rebuild and Recast Avenue E as a Neighborhood Commercial Street

Revitalize CRA Neighborhoods

Section 3: Marina District Project Schedule

February 14, 2013 Planning and Zoning Board Review of Master Plan

February 27, 2013 CRA Commission Review and Approval of Master Plan

February 27, 2013 City Council Review and Approval of Master Plan

March – June 2013 Development of Schematic Drawings and Engineering Plans for Site

Plan Application (phase one of approved Master Plan) & followed by

review by City Departments.

Summer 2013 Review of Site Plans for Phase One of the Master Plans by Planning and

Zoning Board

Summer 2013 CRA Commission Review and Approval of Development Plans

August/Sept. 2013 City Council Review and Approval of Development Plans

Fall 2013 Development of Construction Plans

Spring 2013 Ground Breaking for Beginning of Construction – Phase One Site Plan

Report Prepared by Scott Evans, AICP

Director of Planning & Development.