August 24, 2021
FORT PIERCE FL – Pierce 1 Marina is pleased to announce the company will begin the contract process to purchase 3.2 acres of waterfront property in Fort Pierce known as Fisherman’s Wharf. The property, located north of south causeway bridge along Second Street, is currently owned by the City of Fort Pierce. The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency’s (FPRA) board of directors voted unanimously to sell the property at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 10 at Fort Pierce City Hall. Pierce 1 Marina has agreed to pay $5 million for the property.
“I am very excited to have finally reached the point of purchase for Fisherman’s Wharf,” Chris Shelli, President of Pierce 1 Marina, said. “We began this process more than a year ago when we submitted an initial RFQ for the project. It’s been a long and arduous process, but I believe the wait will have been worth it. When this project is complete, it will be a crown jewel for the City of Fort Pierce and its residents. Thank you to city staff that I’ve had the pleasure of working with and to the members of the FPRA board for their yes vote. I’m anxious to put shovels in the ground!”
Christopher Shelli, President Shelli Associates LLC
“The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency (FPRA) has taken time to give careful consideration to the many opportunities presented to us to redevelop the valuable Fisherman’s Wharf property,” said City of Fort Pierce Mayor and FPRA board member Linda Hudson. “The FPRA wanted a project that would act as a buffer between our thriving Downtown and the Port of Fort Pierce. Shelli Associates or Pierce 1 offers exactly that, with a state-of-the-art boat storage facility, restaurants and other amenities. Best of all, the approved project retains the public access to the waterfront. Our negotiations have resulted in an agreement that protects our city and its taxpayers. This project joins another promising redevelopment project, Kings Landing, to make the future look very bright for the Sunrise City.”
In addition to the purchase price, Shelli Associates will refund the expense Florida Inland Navigation District made to refurbish the boat ramp known as “Black Pearl boat ramp” and will pay to have the boat ramp relocated to a safer and more accessible location. That location will be determined by city and county staff.
Pierce 1 Marina is being developed by Shelli Associates, Inc. a Fort Pierce, FL based finance and development company. The Pierce 1 Marina conceptual plan includes two 2- story signature restaurants, residential and retail spaces, a marina with a water taxi, lighthouse tower, a boardwalk connecting the project to downtown Fort Pierce and a fully-automated innovative dry stack boat storage facility (the Boathouse).
The proposed Boathouse will utilize the most advanced proprietary software in the world. The fully automated crane technology provided by Maff-Stack, LLC will maximize the facility’s dry storage capabilities and minimize boat retrieval time to the fastest in the world. The building will be hurricane rated to at least a category 4 hurricane, is environmentally friendly with its solar paneled roof and boat washing system, and will offer white glove concierge service to its clients. Shelli believes the boathouse will put Fort Pierce on the map in the maritime, boating and fishing industries. “As the first one of its kind in the world, I believe boating and fishing magazines will want this facility on their covers, putting Fort Pierce on the map in the maritime arena.”
Plans also include monthly “Rockin’ the Wharf” events with concerts, food trucks, and festivals taking place along Indian River Drive and the boardwalk. Shelli Associates has already been contacted by more than a dozen restauranteurs and business owners with interest in leasing space. Once permitted, construction for the entire project is expected to last 18-24 months.
Shelli Associates, LLC is a leader in the finance and development industry with more than 40 years’ experience in financing billions of dollars of major projects throughout the United States and Internationally. The firm has worked with clientele providing financial recommendations, assistance in obtaining loans for large scale commercial projects, and managing contracts and development projects. The Fisherman’s Wharf project is being 100% fully financed through Shelli Associates.
“Many new developments are struggling to find financing for their projects,” Shelli said. “Not only are we financing the Fisherman’s Wharf project, but we have dozens of other projects throughout the United States and internationally worth billions of dollars that we are providing financing for.
Learn more about Shelli Associates at www.ShelliAssociates.com.
About Shelli Associates
Shelli Associates, LLC is a leader in the finance and development industry with more than 40 years’ experience in financing billions of dollars of major projects throughout the United States and internationally. Shelli Associates has worked with clientele providing financial recommendations, assistance in obtaining loans for large scale commercial projects throughout the country, and managing contracts and development projects. Learn more about Shelli Associates at www.ShelliAssociates.com.