The City of Sebastian has received a boost for the restoration of Fisherman’s Landing at 1540 Indian River Drive, thanks to a planning and design grant from the Waterway Assistance Program.
The grant, valued at $100,000, will be used solely for design, permitting, and bidding, according to City Manager Brian Benton. This grant will be matched by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) fund. The city is also applying for additional grants to help cover construction costs.
The building, known as Hurricane Harbor and formerly Crab E Bill’s Seafood Market, will receive funding to restore the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfront Collaborative site. This project aims to preserve the location while promoting the economic vitality and cultural heritage of Florida’s traditional working waterfronts.
City leaders are pushing ahead with plans to finish design drawings, get permits, and seek bids by September 2026. They want to turn Fisherman’s Landing into a lively community spot for shows, demos, learning programs, and local events. The focus will be on highlighting Sebastian’s fishing history and seafood industry. The project will work to keep the site’s fishing village theme by reusing as many original building features as possible to preserve its historic look.
City staff have come up with three plans for the project, each mixing preservation with modern building needs. The plans and their estimated costs are:
Option 1: Full Rebuild with Historical Design
This option involves demolishing the existing structure and rebuilding a 4,000-square-foot interior space, replicating the original 1927 garage, kitchen/bar, and landing adjacent to the eastern dining area. The new building would incorporate architectural features mimicking the original design while adhering to current Florida Building Codes.
The estimated cost is $2.5 million, including $2 million for the structure and $500,000 for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and fire suppression systems.
Option 2: Partial Demolition and Restoration
Under this plan, the eastern portions of the building—including the museum, eastern dining area, bar, and service area—would be removed, leaving the original 1927 garage (approximately 2,600 square feet).
The building, last used as a fish market, would be fixed up and brought up to current building standards. This involves strengthening the structure, improving wind resistance, adding fire safety systems, and installing modern heating and cooling. The total cost is estimated at $2.5 million, mainly because it needs to meet the major improvement requirement of $310,407.
Option 3: Deck Removal and Extensive Renovation
This plan involves removing or shortening the eastern outdoor deck so the building stays out of the Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) flood zone. By doing this, the structure wouldn’t need to follow the stricter VE flood zone rules, which require raising the building on piles or piers above a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) of 7 feet.
Instead, the building would meet AE flood zone standards, which mean the floor must be at least 6 feet high. Repairs would fix termite-damaged ceiling beams, weakened concrete foundations, and other structural problems. This option, covering about 5,800 square feet, is expected to cost much more than $2.5 million because of the major retrofitting work needed.
Next Steps
City staff is seeking direction from the City Council at its next meeting on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 6 p.m. at City Hall regarding which option to pursue for schematic design, design drawings, and construction plans.
The Council’s decision will guide the selection of an architect or designer experienced in preservation and restoration projects to ensure the project aligns with the Florida Communities Trust requirements for the Working Waterfront Collaborative’s Management Plan.
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