STEVE REID
Editor & Publisher
sreid@lbknews.com
The 65-year-old Bird Key Yacht Club is officially a memory, having been completely demolished over the past week to make way for a $27.5 million replacement clubhouse. This ambitious project, shaped by the imperative of climate resilience, aims to secure the club’s future for decades to come.
The decision to rebuild was in part a strategic response to the increasing threat of hurricanes and flooding, a necessity highlighted by the “tropical weather events of recent years,” according to Club Commodore Tony Britt.
A ‘Blessing in Disguise’
The current rebuild came after an earlier, less comprehensive renovation proposal was narrowly rejected by members. Britt calls that initial rejection a “blessing in disguise,” as it provided the critical opportunity to reassess the club’s long-term viability.
“It started as a renovation, and then after more consideration and thought we realized that to make it FEMA-compliant, which is critical for the long term — given the club has been on the island for 65 years and we certainly intend to have it last another 65 years—that a renovation really didn’t make any sense,” Britt stated.
Britt added that the old plan was “literally putting a Band-Aid on an issue that was never going to go away.”
Resilience and Elevated Design
The new facility, set to open in late 2026 with the goal of hosting “the biggest New Years party Bird Key has ever had,” will be a 21,500-square-foot structure plus an additional 3,500 square feet of covered outside decks. It will replace the existing 22,300-square-foot clubhouse, which sat on the 4.99-acre site positioned in the
middle of the Bird Key residences.
Designed by local DSDG Architects, the single-story clubhouse will be located in the exact footprint of the original, but will be elevated to meet FEMA standards. Architect Anna Keitel noted the plan also includes underground vaults to mitigate stormwater runoff. The structure itself will feature concrete block and steel, hurricane-rated components, and a standing seam metal roof. The construction company, Tandem, is currently sorting debris for recycling.
Enhancing the Member Experience
While safety and compliance drove the rebuild, the design also prioritizes an enhanced member experience and operational efficiency. The plan includes:
• Replacing the pool.
• Relocating two bocce ball courts.
• Adding a fourth tennis court with modern lighting, despite neighborhood concerns. To be a good neighbor, the club has agreed to a hard shut-off of
the tennis lights by 9 p.m.
• A newly laid-out interior with better functionality. “The old club was not laid out efficiently for food serving. A big advantage to having a new club is operating efficacy,” said Britt. Collapsible walls will allow the entire length of the club to host larger, more integrated events.
A Community-Funded Vision
The $27.5 million project is being funded entirely by its members, a fact Britt highlighted as a reflection of the club’s “friendly, warm, boutique” nature.
“It is a blessing in disguise that the first vote did not go through to simply renovate,” he said. “We had such a high approval rate and we had large voter turnout. Also, it is being built with 100% member financing. As an investment over time they will be paid back.”
The club, which currently has about 275-280 members out of a capped capacity of 425, raised $20 million through a voluntary member loan program,
with individual loans ranging from $50,000 to several million, all secured by the land. The remaining $7.5 million will be gathered through operations. New member fees to join the club have gone up to $55,000.
Despite the new construction, the club is ensuring its history remains, having photographed and rated all mementos from the old facility. “Many mementos and pieces of the club will be in the facility to add history and identity,” Britt said, adding, “We are keeping traditional elements and blending with new.”
