Finally, four years after it was first approved by the Vero Beach City Council, the big, beautiful “boat barn” at the city marina is close to completion.

From the outside, the structure appears finished, the parking lot has been paved and striped, and marina officials expect to receive a certificate of occupancy in the next few weeks, with boats moving in shortly thereafter.

The shipshape dry-storage facility with nautical architectural touches is a key element of the city’s marina improvement and expansion masterplan. It replaces a boat barn built in 1968 and torn down last year that was dilapidated and undersized for today’s vessels. The previous structure measured approximately 8,600 square feet and could handle about 60 boats. To meet growing demand for vessel storage, the new building spans 21,355 square feet and is designed to accommodate up to 120 boats.

“The old building had simply reached the end of its useful life,” said Marina Director Sean Collins. “Boats are bigger now – wider, deeper. We needed something built for today, not for 40 years ago.”

Plans to replace the barn began six years ago as part of the overall marina renovation push. Early proposals called for a 25,768-square-foot building, which prompted complaints from nearby residents about size and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.

Seeking to smooth the civic waters, officials reduced the footprint of the building to its current 21,355 square feet, but that did not satisfy a neighborhood group organized under the name Vero Beach Preservation Alliance. The group pushed a referendum to block the city and filed a lawsuit. The referendum failed and the lawsuit was eventually dismissed, clearing the way for construction to proceed.

The city council approved the boat barn in its current form in 2022, but other hurdles continued to slow the project, including environmental reviews tied to a small wetland area on the property and the need to secure state and federal permits. Once those issues were resolved, the city signed a contract with Proctor Construction and moved forward.

Demolition of the old barn began in April 2025, with foundation work following three months later, in July. Once construction began, progress was rapid.

The new structure sits on a massive reinforced concrete foundation engineered to meet modern storm standards. The building is rated to withstand winds between 150 and 175 miles per hour and incorporates corrosion-resistant materials designed for longevity in a saltwater environment.

“This is built to last,” Collins said. “We’re investing in materials and structural elements that should serve this city for decades.”

Inside, the improvement from the prior boat barn is immediately apparent.

“The first noticeable observation would be that the building has doors on it,” Collins said, noting that the previous structure had been open to weather at both ends since 2004. “Once inside, it’s bright, new, clean. It feels welcoming. The building is saying, ‘Store your boat with us and I will keep it safe and secure for decades.’”

The new facility can store vessels up to 33 feet in length, and storage racks have been configured to handle heavier, wider hulls common in today’s recreational boating market. A modern lift system will enable marina staff to move boats in and out more efficiently than before.

“Importantly for lagoon health, the facility will have zero discharge into the Indian River Lagoon. All water from boat wash-down operations will filter through retention and percolation systems and a baffle box, preventing direct pollutant discharge into the already-stressed lagoon,” according to Daniel Lamson, executive director of the Indian River Neighborhood Association.

The upland portion of the South Marina complex, which includes the barn and related site work, carries a construction cost of approximately $6.4 million, according to city officials. The total cost of Phase 1 – including new docks and other improvements – is about $9.5 million.

Collins said the city secured $1,534,000 in grant funding from the Florida Inland Navigation District over four grant cycles to help offset the overall project cost.

Storage rates in the new barn will range from $20 to $30 per foot per month, depending on vessel size. So far, 50 percent of the building’s capacity has been reserved, and marina staff are steadily vetting additional applicants. Collins said he expects the facility to be at or near full capacity by April 1.

“There’s strong demand, and we’re on track to be close to 100 percent occupied by the time we’re fully operational,” he told Vero Beach 32963.

“This whole project has been a challenge,” Collins added. “From cost to the size of the property we had to work with, it was about balancing what we could build with what we had to work with. The marina has been here for 100 years. I’m committed to building something that will serve and reflect well on the community for the next 100.”

The boat barn is part of a broader marina renovation and expansion plan. Phase 1 included the new South Marina floating dock and related infrastructure improvements. Additional phases, still in the permitting process, could include further dock work and expansion of the mooring field, subject to future approvals and funding.

For now, however, the focus is on the boat barn’s debut.

With final inspections pending and boat owners checking the taillights and tires on their boat trailers, the long-delayed and sometimes controversial structure is about to become part of the everyday rhythm of the marina.