The inverted pyramid of The Pier has been a St. Petersburg landmark since it opened its doors in 1973. On January 6th, the Pier Advisory Task Force met to discuss plans to redesign and revitalize the colorful triangular edifice, which has been seen as a burden on the city in recent times. $50 million has been approved for future renovation of the structure, but will not become available until 2012.
The twenty-person task force met with members of the architecture firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners, to discuss such ideas as adding a Ferris wheel to The Pier. Proposals for an amphitheatre, bringing the structure closer to land, adding retail space on the walkway to the building, and creating a water park were also considered.
Currently, The Pier is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as The Pier Aquarium. Many events are held at the location throughout the year. An estimated 1.2 million people visit The Pier annually.
The first of three public hearings is scheduled to take place on January 19th at 7:00 p.m. at The Coliseum to discuss the issue and gather input from the community.
A community input survey can be found at The Pier’s website, www.stpete-pier.com.
