Brevard County commissioners approved $12 million in Community Redevelopment Agency tax dollars on April 7 for a new parking garage in downtown Eau Gallie. The project is part of a public-private partnership with Melbourne Hospitality Holdings, which plans to build a hotel and partially public parking structure with 540 spaces. Half of the spots will be reserved for public use and will remain free for the first 15 years, according to county officials. The public portion must stay open for 50 years under the agreement.
The approval removes a major obstacle for the city of Melbourne’s plan to expand parking in the historic district and develop a hotel in the Eau Gallie Arts District. The parking garage will replace the Foosaner Arts Museum, a long-term redevelopment goal for the city. The CRA funding comes from both Brevard County and the city of Melbourne, with the Olde Eau Gallie Community Redevelopment Agency overseeing the project. The agency previously had a spending limit of $8.9 million but now has additional resources for the development.
The new agreement also accelerates the sunset date for the CRA from 2038 to 2033. Melbourne Hospitality Holdings’ proposal has support from city council members, though details about the hotel’s brand or timeline for construction remain unclear. The public parking portion will be managed by the county, while the hotel developer will control the remaining spaces. Commissioners initially approved the plan on Dec. 16, 2025, but the April 7 vote finalized the funding arrangement.
County officials emphasized that the project aims to improve parking options in the area while supporting economic growth. The CRA’s role in the development is expected to end in 2033, after which the parking garage will be transferred to the county for long-term management. The hotel’s construction is still pending, but the approval of the parking garage marks a key step in the city’s efforts to revitalize the Eau Gallie district.