St. Petersburg’s southern waterfront might receive a major makeover under a plan proposed Thursday, April 14. The area of focus would be the Center for the Arts in St. Petersburg. This area is from First Avenue South to Dali Boulevard. It includes important establishments such as the Mahaffey Theater, the Salvador Dali Museum, Al Lang Stadium, the Saturday Morning Market, and the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Revitalization in downtown St. Pete could allow for some of these beloved areas to expand even further.
According to WUSF, the plan was was brought up during the city’s Public Service and Infrastructure Committee meeting. Chris Ballestra, managing director of the city’s development administration, said the area is in need of an update.
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“From Al Lang (stadium) south to what’s now Dali, we haven’t put a lot of effort into what is one of the biggest economic engines in the city,” Ballestra said.
Ballestra presented renderings of proposed redevelopment ideas. The renderings are not final and more work is needed before any plans can move forward. These redevelopment plans are created from a St. Petersburg based architecture company, ARC3 Architecture.
The renderings focus on providing better access for vehicles and more dynamic use of the area. This includes access for vehicles, like a covered drop-off area, valet parking, and expanding the relocated parking garage. Opportunities regarding retail, the Florida Orchestra, and the grand prix were also mentioned.
Ballestra said a more detailed financial analysis would need to performed — including determining how it would be funded — and he hopes to present a plan to Mayor Ken Welch, the city council, and the community by fall.
Read more about the plans here.
