Posted on 07/14/2015 8:20:28 AM PDT by Justa
The city of St. Petersburg in Florida is to gain an exciting new public space. The St. Petersburg Pier will be redesigned as a hybrid pier-park accommodating a variety of outdoor activities and facilities for entertainment and public events. The Pier-Park is located in the city of St. Petersburg in Florida, US The Pier-Park will retain the inverted pyramid that already exists The Pier-Park will have a large welcome plaza The Pier-Park will be a redevelopment of the existing St. Petersburg Pier
Although unusual, the pier-park concept is not unprecedented. New York's planned Pier 55, for example, is designed to be a lush green environment on the Hudson River. The new St. Petersburg pier will offer similar green spaces to Pier 55, as well as a broader selection of other facilities.
The pier itself has had numerous guises. Originally the Railroad pier of 1889, it has subsequently been known as the Electric Pier, the Municipal Pier, the Million-Dollar Pier, and, most recently, simply, "The Pier."
The new US$46 million project is a collaboration between Rogers Partners Architects+Urban Designers, ASD and Ken Smith Landscape Architect. Once complete, the 1,380 ft (421 m) pier is aimed at extending the urban and recreational features of St. Petersburg into the bay itself and reconnecting the pier to the daily life of St. Petersburg.
According to a press release, the new development will be a platform for a multitude of activities and experiences rather than "a singular and heavily programmed destination." It will seek to attract all sorts of people, including children, seniors, nature lovers, boaters, fishermen and so on.
To begin with, there will be paths and trails through a coastal thicket for cycling, jogging and walking. Floating docks covering an area of 17,000 sq ft (1,600 sq m) and a bait shop will cater for fishing, whilst facilities for kayaking, boating and other watersports will also be available. There will also be a splash-pool for paddling in and it will be possible to hire bike and watercraft at the pier.
A 7,600 sq ft (700 sq m) bar and grill will provide a place for eating and drinking and there will be spaces for events, such as concerts, including a sloping lawn with a potential capacity of 4,000 people. Wet and dry classrooms will be available for education activities.
Elsewhere there will be other other retail and recreation facilities, a welcome plaza, a spa beach, a tiled lawn and porch swings. Transport links will include the St. Petersburg trolley and a potential high-speed ferry. The Pier-Park is expected to open to the public in early 2018. Source: Rogers Partners, Pier Park
Money quotes:
"The new US$46 million project is a collaboration between Rogers Partners Architects+Urban Designers, ASD and Ken Smith Landscape Architect."
"Transport links will include the St. Petersburg trolley and a potential high-speed ferry. The Pier-Park is expected to open to the public in early 2018. Source: Rogers Partners, Pier Park"
Perhaps I’m too easily amused, but I do get amused watching people and the media squeeze popular words into titles and phrases seeking to instill heightened interest.
Hybrid is the popular word these days.
About three to five years ago it was Tuscany or Tuscan. Everything was Tuscan this or that. Landscapers, interior designers, builders... it was laughable.
Too bad - the inverted pyramid had the feel of a fire trap... elevators running through restaurant kitchens etc.
The proximity to the north end of the Saint Petersburg airport accentuates the pier's recreational value. Aren't all the best parks at the end of a runway? Public funds, private profits, suitability be dam@#d. I hope no one lost property via eminent domain.
The little city that wants to be a big city.
It’s all fun and games until a Category 5 hits.
They are getting a Hauffbrau House too. Nothing else even matters!
It will be stifling hot and inhospitable, why not way more shade?
What’s with the skewed angles and pretentious shapes of the structures?, it’s very 1990s as far as design goes. Very lame.
And seriously, a park at the end of an airfield?
Definitely public money and politics on this one.
Following extensive research, it was found that the first regular scheduled air line was the St. Petersburg-Tampa Air Line, operated with Benoist flying boats in 1914. Fansler organized the company. Pheil was the first passenger, and Jannus was the pilot.
CollectAir
http://www.earlyaviators.com/ejannto2.htm
The city and county are in decline. Public and private costs are increasing as services decline. Fidelity is moving, Raymond James is moving and others as well. The smart money is leaving. They’re moving to Pasco, near the Veterans expansion. I left 2 years ago to relocate to this area. The county’s response to the decline is to increase public costs via marginal public works projects.
People aren’t moving to Pasco because of attractive (on paper) public works and nice restaurants (it hardly has any). They’re moving for its smaller, less-intrusive government and fewer, full-spectrum moochers.
Following extensive research, it was found that the first regular scheduled air line was the St. Petersburg-Tampa Air Line, operated with Benoist flying boats in 1914. Fansler organized the company. Pheil was the first passenger, and Jannus was the pilot.
CollectAir
http://www.earlyaviators.com/ejannto2.htm
The airport is the area’s UPS and Coast Guard hub btw.
How many people are going to go to the park to appreciate the ‘historic’ nature of the airport? I suggest submitting your post to the St. Pete CoC for inclusion in the pier’s visitor brochure. It’s an apt way to address the aircraft over-flights.
It’s interesting what has become of St Petersburg.
In decades past, it was one of the first areas in Florida to start trending GOP. The rest of the state was Blue Dof or Boll Weevil Democrat in its vointg habits.
Now, the roles have reversed. With the exception of Dade or Broward County, St Petersburg is voting increasingly Dem. I can’t speak for the voting habits of cities like Clearwater or Pinellas Park (adjacent to St Petersburg), but if they’re still voting GOP, they’re probably not doing it with the margins they used to.
” St Petersburg is voting increasingly Dem. I cant speak for the voting habits of cities like Clearwater or Pinellas Park (adjacent to St Petersburg), but if theyre still voting GOP, theyre probably not doing it with the margins they used to.”
Pinellas county and St. Pete became ICE sanctuaries in 2014.
If you are going to blow a bunch of tax payer money, just build a high speed rail across the bay... / S
They need to make the whole pier a retail and restaurant enclosed facility...
Nobody is going to want to visit "The Pier" in the middle of summer and darn near pass out from heat stroke.
The eyesore of the inverted inverted pyramid needs to be torn down.
Agreed. The St. Pete planners should take a look at the Toronto waterfront area for some ideas. Different weather challenges up there, but similar solutions.
The Pier was an overpriced tourist trap.
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