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Despite a few starts and stops on repairing the Arthur Pryor Bandshell, boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette is line to begin construction before year’s end.

In charge of restoring and managing commercial properties that line the boardwalk area, the group gave a project update presenation during Tuesday night’s Council Workshop meeting.

The plan to restore the bandshell and its audience space at its southern end is now coupled with a desire to create a flatter area for events and weddings, said Senior Vice President Anseim Fusco.

“The need was for an architect, and a design that is achievable, a structural engineer, and ideally a tenant,” Fusco said. “Over the years we’ve had one or two of those things but never found the right team.”

Now they have a design team, architect and potential tenant lined up, said Carrie Turner, director of retail.

The next step will be to file a Technical Review Committee [TRC] application by Feb. 19, she said.

Fusco said they have enlisted architect Earl Jackson of the Manhattan-based Cooper Robertson firm. Jackson was here during the Sandy-related, HUD sponsored Rebuild by Design project.

Structural engineer Phil Moss said the pavilion’s precast concrete structure does not lend well to different platforms they seek to introduce at the site. Although the foundation is able to support the fixed seating use they must ensure the structure can accommodate the new events venue use.

Fusco said the challenge will be to construct a roof that will work with the building’s foundation. They hope to fasten a roof to shield from wind and rain, thereby allowing for an extended season for boardwalk patrons.

“The roof represents an opportunity to better engage the public with what is a truly fantastic view,” he said. “It’s a great space up there. It’s a special spot.”

Turner said the application must make its way through the TRC, Council and Planning Board approvals before securing a building permit. Because projected costs would be above $600,000, they would have 30 months, from the time of Planning Board approval, to complete construction.

In related a related Madison Marquette project, the boardwalk redeveloper will seek Planning Board approval to complete the Ocean Avenue facing art wall located at the First Avenue Pavilion.

The project received conceptual plan approval in May 2013 and Madison Marquette has now contracted with an artist to complete the work, Turner said.

“We will appear before the Planning board and will need four weeks for construction of the drawings and three months to fabricate and install,” Turner said.

The target completion date will by July 2016.

“This would set us up for a certificate of completion, removing it from the SDA [Subsequent Development Agreement],” Fusco said. “These [two projects] are high priorities for us. They would help move other projects along.”

The SDA is an agreement the boardwalk developer signed with the city in 2010.

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