Pier Park settlement clears a path for Ocean Drive's next chapter
A Pier Park settlement, Dade Boulevard bids, Beach View Park construction, Venetian infrastructure, flood insurance, public art, and The Bass.
Pier Park settlement clears a path for Ocean Drive's next chapter
The deal ends more than three years of litigation over the property at 1st Street and Ocean Drive.
After more than three years of litigation, Miami Beach has a path forward for one of its most prominent stretches of oceanfront. On May 20, the Miami Beach Commission approved a settlement agreement with Penrod Brothers Inc. and Boucher Brothers, LLC, ending the dispute over the future of the Pier Park property at 1st Street and Ocean Drive.
The structure matters for taxpayers: the city says it can move forward without an out-of-pocket payment to Penrod, which receives $3 million and keeps its lease and concession agreements through Aug. 6, 2027. Boucher Brothers agreed to cover the city's $1.5 million share, subject to recoupment from future payments owed to the city under the Pier Park concession agreement and other considerations that remain under negotiation. Boucher Brothers Pier Park, partnered with Major Food Group, was the top-ranked proposer in 2023.
The planned public amenity blends recreation, dining, retail and beach concessions, including a Mediterranean restaurant, Japanese teppanyaki rooms and a Sadelle's Cafe. The city also lists community commitments: beach-accessible wheelchairs, funding for two police officers and a park ranger, resident priority access and discounts through a planned All-Access App, support for a mobile food pantry and senior services, dune maintenance, a Victory Garden, support for the Miami Beach Senior High culinary program, annual donations to every public school, 12 resident-focused events each year, and beach and environmental cleanups.
Keep the timeline expectations grounded. This is a planning milestone, not a ribbon-cutting. The city says the project anticipates breaking ground in late summer 2027, with an opening targeted for fall 2029.
Dade Boulevard pathway work is out for bid
Proposals are due electronically by 3 p.m. on June 29.
Miami Beach is looking to improve the walking experience on one of mid-Beach's busier corridors. Under ITB 2026-298-MP, the city is seeking a qualified firm to upgrade the pedestrian pathway along the south side of Dade Boulevard, from Alton Road to Convention Center Drive.
The work follows the existing sidewalk alignment and includes upgrades at associated street crossings. Firms interested in bidding have a clear deadline: sealed proposals are due electronically through Bidnet Direct by 3 p.m. on June 29, 2026. The May 28 site visit and pre-bid meeting were listed as recommended rather than mandatory, and the city directs prospective proposers to register with Bidnet Direct so they receive addenda tied to the solicitation.
Beach View Park is in an eight-month construction window
The 5301 Collins Avenue park has restricted public access while work continues.
If your routine includes Beach View Park at 5301 Collins Avenue, plan around it for a while. The park project is in construction, with public access restricted for the duration of an approximately eight-month schedule that began in March, barring unforeseen circumstances.
The work includes replacing playground furniture and exercise equipment, installing new landscaping and upgraded irrigation systems, adding outdoor furnishings, laying pavers, and making general park improvements. Beach access from parking lot P72 is being maintained, and the lot remains accessible, though select spaces may temporarily close for equipment staging. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with moderate daytime noise, machinery, fencing and possible effects on adjacent sidewalks.
Venetian Causeway water mains are being replaced
The city ranks the existing crossings first on its critical-assets list.
A piece of infrastructure most residents rarely think about is moving through a major upgrade. The Venetian Causeway Water and Sewer Main Upgrades Phase 2 project replaces the aerial water main crossings along the north and south sides of the Venetian bridges.
The city describes the existing pipes as in poor condition and ranked first on the prioritized list of critical assets in the Water & Sewer Renewal and Replacement Report. Once completed, the new lines are expected to provide enough flow capacity to meet the city's growing demands. The project page lists a May 15 update among the current notices for residents tracking the work.
A flood insurance forum is set for June 9
The Zoom session is scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m.
Ahead of peak storm planning season, Miami Beach is putting flood risk on the calendar. Mayor Steven Meiner and a panel of speakers will host an online Flood Insurance Forum on Tuesday, June 9, from 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom.
The city says the session will cover why flood insurance matters, how to stay flood-aware, and the role city parks play in reducing neighborhood flooding. For homeowners and condo owners reviewing coverage before summer weather ramps up, the useful part is the format: one hour, online, with the Zoom registration linked from the city event page.
BirdHouse is unveiled at Bayshore Park on Friday
The Michele Oka Doner public art event runs from 4 to 5 p.m.
Mid-Beach gets a new public art moment this week. On Friday, May 29, from 4 to 5 p.m., the city will unveil BirdHouse, a public art installation by Miami Beach-born artist Michele Oka Doner, at Bayshore Park, 2500 Pine Tree Drive.
The city says the sculpture was selected through the Art in Public Places Committee's competitive process. The unveiling includes poetry readings by students from O, Miami's Sunroom program and the ceremonial sounds of a Caribbean conch shell. Parking is available at Miami Beach Senior High School, 2231 Prairie Ave., with free shuttles running to the park for the event.
The Bass hosts a free family day Sunday
The museum's community day runs noon to 5 p.m. on May 31.
The Bass Museum of Art at 2100 Collins Avenue is hosting a free Community Day on Sunday, May 31, from noon to 5 p.m. Families with children of all ages can drop in for art-making projects in The Bass Creativity Center, with materials provided for hands-on work.
The day also includes a prompted art exploration of current exhibitions using an art explorer guide, described as a scavenger hunt through the galleries. Each Family Day includes Art Cares projects centered on therapeutic, well-being-focused activities, which makes this a straightforward no-cost museum option after a weekend full of outdoor programming.