The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Operation Big Beach, the sequel, will have to wait another year.
The plan to widen the resort area beach this spring by dumping more than a million cubic yards of sand on it was scrapped after the only bid for the work came in way over budget.
"We got smashed," Deputy City Manager Dave Hansen told the City Council at a recent meeting. "The bid came in $10 million over."
Engineers had estimated the job at $13 million.
Virginia Beach and Army Corps of Engineers officials hoped to build up the beach between Rudee Inlet and Fort Story for the first time since the original Operation Big Beach in 2002. That project widened the beach to 300 feet and included construction of the Boardwalk, which doubles as a seawall. Since then, erosion has nibbled away at the resort area beach, especially between 20th and 60th streets.
Companies that do sand replenishment have a backlog of work and the sole bid reflected the additional cost of rearranging existing contracts to work in Virginia Beach, said Phill Roehrs, the city's coastal engineer.
"Beach-building dredgers were just fully engaged this year," he said.
The city plans to rebid the job in June with the hope of getting the work started in December. The contract will be expanded to include replenishment for Sandbridge. That would drive the estimated cost up to $30 million and may make the job more attractive to companies that are enjoying a strong run because of an infusion of federal money for sand projects, Roehrs said.
The work would cost the city $21 million, with the federal government chipping in $9 million.
City beaches need new sand, Roehrs said, but it's not an emergency situation.
"It's still a usable beach and offers a great deal of protection against storms, but it's time to replenish it," he said. "It's time to take action, but it's not time to start filling sandbags."
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talk about waste
I wonder how many of the "waste" "abuse" commenter's below are at work making the comments and wasting the owner's $$$ by NOT WORKING ! ! ! !
Whoa!
How can anyone work when there are opinions to posted and arguments to fight on the internet ????
talk about waste
I wonder how many of the "waste" "abuse" commenter's below are at work making the comments and wasting the owner's $$$ by NOT WORKING ! ! ! !
Folks
I am against the city wasting our money, but some of you all are way out of line in your comments. The oceanfront pays for all of the improvements in extra taxes and revenues in sales tax that probably built that library in Kempsville and the rec center at Great Neck. If you wish the oceanfront borough and take the tax revenues from that area and operate their own city again, I'm sure they would go for it.
What a bunch of nay sayers...
Why do we need sand on the beach? It affects flood insurance for when a Nor'easter or Hurricane blows water to the resort. Believe it or not the resort provides for Va. Beach. It is a smart investment, like putting a fire detector in your home.
Why does the federal govt share in the cost? Because localities can't afford. Feds use to pay 66% now it is less because it is Maintenance beach replenishment.
You may be a "local" but the tourist have given us some nice stuff due to their contribution of sales/occupancy taxes they pay!!! We are a resort town, make it nice.
For all you complainers who "know what to do" run for public office to share your wisdom, it is harder than you thinks to make decisions and keep public happy.
~just sayin
Why bother?
With all the global warming and the huge sea level rise we are supposed to see here the entire resort strip should be underwater soon anyway.
I just wonder what having ocean front property is going to do to my taxes in Kempsville.
but but but
developer cronies keep saying how all their tax handouts from city council are keeping taxes low
all these people crying about special tax zones, and tax bills coming in the mail, and increased service fees on refuse must simply be delusional... somehow I think not
there wouldn't be a need for beach replenishment programs if the hotel lobby had not been able to buy off city council and build on the dune line in the first place
how much was spent in 2002 to replenish the ocean front and did tax revenues exceed those costs as well as other infrastructure costs like boardwalk improvements, water and sewage upgrades, additional parking facilities, and on and on and on
After they are done putting
After they are done putting sand in front of the homes in Sandbridge, can the city please come landscape my property. Seems only fair.
Once again folks need reminding that Sandbridge pays its own way
The money to fund the Sandbridge part of the replenishment comes from Sandbridge property owners (we are assessed an additional property tax each year for sand replenishment). If that's how we want to spend our money, it's no one else's business.
This is not true for the resort area, but I guess the city feels it gets paid back in tourist tax dollars.
If you want the city to landscape your property, then sign an agreement with them to collect an additional "landscape" tax from you each year, and every ten years or so they should come and landscape your yard.
Some of the comments here
Some of the comments here are remarkably short-sighted. No, I don't own beach property, but do appreciate the tax revenue provided. Sandbridge is in a special tax district and essentially "self-funds" the sand replinishment. That little district also contributes about $6 million in lodging revenue each year from rentals. I'm certain the beach front owners would gleefully create an escrow from the extra taxes and pay for sand replenishment directly. The extra money (beyond the replenishment) would be appreciated.