City of Sebastian Extends Crab E Bills’ Lease Amid Safety, Liability Concerns

The Sebastian City Council, with a vote of 4 to 1, has extended Crab E Bills’ lease until June 1, 2024. This decision impacts the “Hurricane Harbor” building, which has served various purposes over the past century, including an auto garage, storage facility, restaurant, and where Crab E Bills Seafood Market has been in business for the past 10 years. According to the city, the structure is deemed unsafe, prompting their desire for the tenant to vacate for safety evaluations. 

Crab E Bills, under its 10-year lease, has become a local staple for fresh seafood. Owner Susan “Suzy” Andrews and loyal customers advocated at last Wednesday’s city council meeting for the business to continue operations during building repairs. 

Andrews pleaded with the council to allow her to continue operating during the structural improvements. She also highlighted the potential negative impacts on local suppliers, including fishermen and an oyster farm, if the business closed.

“I want to work with the city and continue my business. If you want to fix the back of the building, I don’t see an issue with us being there and staying in operation during that time,” Andrews told the council. 

The city, which owns the building and leases it to Crab E Bills for $3,000 a month, insists on the fish market vacating due to safety concerns and high liability risks. 

Mayor Ed Dodd clarified that the business’s viability isn’t tied to the building itself, and other council members acknowledged longstanding awareness of the need to vacate. Structural issues, like rotting timber in the walls and potential extensive damage during repairs, were cited as major concerns.

Councilman Bob McPartlan emphasized the completion of the city’s 10-year lease obligation and raised concerns over the building’s structural integrity, citing engineering studies and potential high repair costs.

“We’ve had estimates on that building of $1.5 million dollars. That’s where the estimates always start. I don’t know any job that ever started at $1.5 million and came back at $1.5 million. It’s usually 2 or 3 million dollars more,” McPartlan said.

Council members, including Fred Jones, Kelly Dixon, and Chris Nunn, shared these safety concerns, fearing potential injuries in the deteriorating building.

This building is among the few remaining original structures in Sebastian, contrasting with others like Judah and Sons, sold for development, and Archie Smith Fish House, set for demolition and park development. The city aims to preserve the Crab E Bills site, funded by the Stan Mayfield Grant, for its historical and cultural significance, denying any plans for commercial development.

“I’ll clear this up now; that building and the property it sits on will never be condos. We own that property for a reason: to keep the view of the river and to keep control of it. I’m hearing people not just here but outside saying, ‘Oh, but the city just wants to give it to developers,’ and that’s not even something that we’ve even talked about or thought about. We own that property; it’s tied to the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfront to the docks. It can’t be sold off,” Nunn said.

Councilwoman Dixon was the only one who voted against the lease extension, citing unclear liability details and safety risks in what was referred to as a ‘condemned building.’

“I was unable to get a clear understanding of the inspection report and a full picture on the liability for the city by keeping them in what I kept hearing on the dais to be a ‘condemned building.’ It seems to be a liability risk in an emotional situation, and that does not sit well with me,” Dixon told Sebastian Daily.

A couple of years ago, when engineers discovered structural damage to the building, they (and the insurance company) instructed the city to close the back waterfront portion because it was a safety issue. But also during that time, Mayor Dodd attempted to assist Crab E Bills by proposing a temporary relocation during renovations. 

However, Andrews hired an attorney demanding compensation, stalling all communication between the city and Andrews. The city then decided not to renew the lease with Crab E Bills when it expired in 2024.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Mayor Dodd showed signs of opening communication with Andrews again to explore potential solutions for the fish market. He asked City Manager Brian Benton to see if he could do anything. If the city can help Andrews, it will be brought up again in a future council meeting.