Waterfront Watch
Causeway Cove Fort Pierce: The Proposed Seaway Drive Redevelopment Explained
By Bridgette A. Daley • October 30, 2026
If one project has Fort Pierce group chats on fire, it is Causeway Cove.
Causeway Cove Marina sits at 601 Seaway Drive on the Indian River Lagoon, minutes from the Fort Pierce Inlet. It opened in January 2018. Its listing describes docks, mooring buoys, a waterfront RV park and an event center on more than 43 acres of water and land. Now the site is at the center of a redevelopment fight.
What Is Proposed
According to City of Fort Pierce records cited by WPEC CBS12, the project on Seaway Drive would include:
- 913 residential units
- Two hotels totaling 407 rooms
- More than 72,000 square feet of retail and commercial space
- 218 marina slips
- Five buildings, reported at 14 to 17 stories by Hometown News and 11 to 17 stories by CBS12
That is a major change for a barrier island neighborhood. The site is an $8 million land parcel at 601 Seaway Drive. Records cited by Hometown News list the project as headed by Palm Beach developer Ashton DePeyster under G. FLASH General Partners Inc. Local coverage that tallied this project together with Boardwalk on the Inlet put the combined total at 967 residential units, two hotels and a convention center. The two projects are separate and are pitched by different developers.
Why the City Says It Has Little Say
The project has become a flashpoint over Florida's Live Local Act. At a Fort Pierce Planning Board meeting, city officials stressed the discussion was informational only and said the state law leaves them with little say over whether the project moves ahead.
The Live Local Act can allow qualifying projects to sidestep certain local restrictions when they include a required share of affordable housing. For Causeway Cove, Hometown News reports the city has said 40 percent of the residential units must stay affordable for 30 years. The proposal lists no dollar figure defining those price ranges.
The Pushback
Opposition is loud and public. State Rep. Dana Trabulsy said Fort Pierce needs the tax base that new development brings, but not at this scale. City Commissioner Michael Broderick, who lives on South Hutchinson Island, said he expects the rents for units designated as affordable to average $3,000 a month, which he said is not affordable by the city's standards. Mayor Linda Hudson also voiced strong opposition.
A residents' petition on Change.org is also circulating. An August 5, 2026 update carries the headline that Rep. Trabulsy says the development is not compliant. Hometown News reported that she told the City Commission the plan has map errors, environmental and traffic questions and may conflict with the city's comprehensive land use plan. City staff reached the opposite conclusion. A staff report found environmental compliance and consistency with the comprehensive plan.
None of that is a final ruling. Positions can change, and so can plans.
Do not buy or sell near the site on rumor. Pull the actual site plan, check which approvals apply and watch for any legal challenge.
Reading the Tea Leaves as a Buyer or Investor
The case for.
More housing supply in a high-demand coastal market. More tax base. More marina and retail amenities. A redeveloped waterfront could look very different from a marina and RV park.
The case against.
Height, density, traffic and storm evacuation are real concerns on a barrier island. Neighbors worry about the loss of the area's character. The legal path is contested, which means timelines can slip.
The practical read.
Uncertainty cuts both ways for prices. I did not find data that measures an effect either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Causeway Cove approved?
I could not confirm a final approval. Hometown News reported in July that the plan had gained substantial approval from city planners, and city staff found it consistent with the comprehensive plan. Opponents dispute that, and the Planning Board discussion was informational only.
How tall would the buildings be?
Sources differ. City records cited by CBS12 describe five buildings from 11 to 17 stories. Hometown News reports 14 to 17 stories.
What is the Live Local Act?
It is a Florida law that can limit a city's ability to block certain developments that include affordable housing.
What happens to the existing marina?
The redevelopment would include 218 marina slips. Plans can change, so confirm details with the city.
Do Not Navigate This Alone
Two big projects. One narrow island. Plenty of noise. If you own or want to buy on South Hutchinson Island, let's review the facts and your options together.
Reach Out to Bridgette