St. Pete Pier redevelopment

[Jasonhouse]

One thing to remember is that all of those DT area condo/townhouse dwellers aren't parking any size boat anywhere. And there are rules in neighborhoods that prevent parking a boat on your property. And these days, the store-and-launch places are almost as pricey as docking, after many of them were bought out and converted into waterfront residential. I use the marina in DT St Pete, as well as the various Davis Islands launches with some regularity, and you would be surprised at how many small boats are kept in these places where one would expect lots and lots of 30'+ watercraft.

Point being, a bridge with an 18'-20' clearance would lease out its spaces just fine. Now, with the larger issue of losing potential revenue parking even bigger boats, I don't think that basin or its channel is very deep in the first place.

[HARTride 2012]

http://www.baynews9.com/video?clip=h...tation_217.f4v

Bill Foster is looking for something with a "WOW" Factor....

[TampaMike]

Both proposals suck. No ones going to go to a beach connected to Tampa Bay. Hillsborough residents won't pick a St. Pete beach over Clearwater Beach or even Treasure Island.

Again, I say use the money somewhere else in the city. Too many people are focused on using this money just around this area, I don't think anything is preventing it from being spent near Tropicana, Dali Museum, Central Ave., or anywhere else in the city. Something with a "wow factor" can happen anywhere in St. Pete, think outside the box.

[Jasonhouse]

^Then the pier will be condemned in a few years. Right?

But I do think that the city would be better off using the $50 million in the interim to lure federal funds and get some BRT going or maybe some streetcar downtown.

[I-275westcoastfl]

They paid $400,000 to see those proposals? WTF?!?!? I agree something iconic should be built but $50 million isn't enough for anything good, so instead as mentioned knock the current pier down and work with the land leading to the pier and maybe leave some possible room for building a future pier.

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

^Then the pier will be condemned in a few years. Right?

But I do think that the city would be better off using the $50 million in the interim to lure federal funds and get some BRT going or maybe some streetcar downtown.

Of course tear down the pier, don't want to have an empty pier and a more empty inverted pyramid just sitting there. But like Mike said, spruce up the land leading up to the pier, and use the money elsewhere. Maybe give the museum there $5 million to expand and clean up the area and use the remaining money elsewhere.

I like the streetcar idea. But would the city accept using the money on a streetcar instead of another waterfront structure?

[Jasonhouse]

I don't understand why they paid $400,000 for loose conceptual drawings, only to turn around and declare that they intend to do an "international design competition", which by its nature invites visionary designs that are clearly going to accomplish on their own, what the city just blew $400k to be told.

I'm 100% certain that members of this site could have produced the same quality of work and corresponding research for like 90% less money. They basically paid $400k to be informed that in the age of CAD, things can be built on curves too. They're in over their heads, as usual.

[I-275westcoastfl]

Exactly what I was thinking Jason!

[Del Mayberry]

They need to get a 3d animation like the riverwalk, not just still aerial renders. I'm not feeling it yet.

[Jasonhouse]

Check it out...

Okay, here's the deal. St. Petersburg's engineering consultant, Luis Ajamil, has produced renderings depicting any number of possibilities for the landmark tourist attraction. His ideas include bending the Pier north across the water and connecting it with Vinoy Park, where visitors might enjoy an observation tower or dancing fountains.

St. Petersburg developer Daryl LeClair has suggested parkland, a tram and a big public beach.

The city is now seeking public comment.

Which gave us an idea.

We asked Times artist Don Morris to apply his reliably twisted imagination to the problem. You're looking at the result.(click here to see interactive illustration) It's unlikely the city will put a colossal statue of a tourist on its waterfront, but the idea might inspire you.


So: What would you do with the Pier?

Tell us.

Describe your vision in an e-mail. Draw a sketch on a napkin, we don't care. Morris will illustrate the best ideas -- serious and otherwise -- in a future edition of Floridian.

Send us your ideas at calendar@tampabay.com with Pier Pressure in the subject line, or write to:

Pier Pressure, c/o Kelley Benham,
St. Petersburg Times,
490 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Please include your full name, city and e-mail address.

-- The editors

http://"http://www.tampabay.com/spec...-pier/#anchor"

Well alrighty then... Given the nature of our forum here, I think this is something that we should be all over. I know that just about everyone here has an eye for architecture/planning/design in one way or another. Perhaps we can be of some constructive use?


And btw, something I found kind of interesting is that I emailed a couple of people at the Times earlier in the week imploring them to run a story inviting input from the community on what they would do to redevelop the pier, and then I directed them to this thread as evidence that there are people out there with interesting ideas.

[I-275westcoastfl]

http://www.tampabay.com/specials/201...rg-dream-pier/

Am I the only one who feels that the new pier shouldn't be some cheesy tourist trap? I mean for one with $50 million to work with I think they should just develop the mainland part with retail and parks and leave room for a new pier until there is somebody willing to invest in a new Pier. Then we should get something modern and landmark like that no other city with a pier has or some kind of futuristic design.

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by I-275westcoastfl

http://www.tampabay.com/specials/201...rg-dream-pier/

Am I the only one who feels that the new pier shouldn't be some cheesy tourist trap? I mean for one with $50 million to work with I think they should just develop the mainland part with retail and parks and leave room for a new pier until there is somebody willing to invest in a new Pier. Then we should get something modern and landmark like that no other city with a pier has or some kind of futuristic design.

No, your not the only one. I saw skyride and zipline and I had to ask myself if we're talking about a new pier or relocating the Florida State Fair.

I'm with you, just redevelop the land to incorporate retail, parks, parking, and maybe a 1,000 seat ampitheatre. Continue to allow space for the museum and a new pier down the road. Maybe set up a reserve on the side so we can save up enough $$$ to build a proper pier or any structure that doesn't include amusement rides and useless features.

[Jasonhouse]

To be fair, the point of that illustration is just to lay out ideas. What's drawn wouldn't be a singular plan. At least I hope not. lol

The pier needs anchor attractions, preferably more than one of them.

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

To be fair, the point of that illustration is just to lay out ideas. What's drawn wouldn't be a singular plan. At least I hope not. lol

The pier needs anchor attractions, preferably more than one of them.

I'm talking about the plans that came from the consultants that the city paid $400,000+ for. The illustration si far more worse. lol 8 story water slide? Riding manatees? lmao

[Del Mayberry]

Whoh! That was too much. Water rides down a hill, submarines? Looks too much like a theme park. Keep Orlando in Orlando.

[Jasonhouse]

C'mon people, you're missing the point.

[rainierm]

Originally Posted by I-275westcoastfl

http://www.tampabay.com/specials/201...rg-dream-pier/

Am I the only one who feels that the new pier shouldn't be some cheesy tourist trap? I mean for one with $50 million to work with I think they should just develop the mainland part with retail and parks and leave room for a new pier until there is somebody willing to invest in a new Pier. Then we should get something modern and landmark like that no other city with a pier has or some kind of futuristic design.

For a second I thought this was some serious illustration til I got to Spa Beach and the beautiful lifeguards. I liked the illustrations I saw in the paper (not the developers) but the ones that used it to connect to Vinoy Park and had an ampitheater, marina and observation tower. The beach idea, meh, I agree with a previous poster (forgot who) that a bay beach doesn't have the draw of a Gulf beach.

[TampaMike]

Would adding another military ship museum for the Tampa Bay area be considered adding another tourist trap? Line the strip of land with shops and restaurants, add a streetcar looping through then or later, and have the ship at the end of the strip.

[Jasonhouse]

Whatever they do, hopefully this works out for the best.

[Jahi98]

I like the fairy to Channelside. I think it would be popular or both locals and tourists - a scenic, fun way to see the attractions and activities in both downtowns without driving. I like the idea of party boats docking there, too.