One-third of the new Beirut city center will lie on reclaimed land. Commanding fine views of the Mediterranean, with a picturesque landscape of hills and mountains across the bay, it provides an uninterrupted 3.5-km extension of the city shoreline. Heavy engineering investment in sea defense, marina construction, environmental cleanup and reclamation to be finalized by end 2007, are preparing for its development.
The New Waterfront District will be a prime, active, multiuse district with financial, business, residential, tourist and leisure facilities and extensive green areas and bold architecture commanding fine views of the sea and the Lebanese mountains. It will offer 29 ha of new waterside development land, with two marinas, a city waterside park, corniche and quayside promenades.
With its capacity standing at 186 boats ranging from 5 to 65 meters, Beirut Marina hosted 128 boats and yachts in 2005, and entered its fifth season in spring 2006. Real estate development around the marina, designed by Steven Holl architects (US), will include a town quay of waterside restaurants and shops, a yacht club with apartments above; and harbor master, customs and immigration buildings on the quayside.