St. Pete mayor: Pier demolition could be delayed

BY JOSH BOATWRIGHT Tribune staff

Published: June 26, 2013

The mayor appeared to back away from his previous insistence on demolishing the aging inverted pyramid this summer, possibly before an Aug. 27th referendum on whether to cancel the controversial Lens project.

Permits city officials are seeking for demolition could be complicated if voters opt to scrap the Lens design. The city has applied for a single permit for demolition and construction of a new pier, Foster said.

"Quite candidly, it's helpful to know what you're replacing it with while you're getting your demolition permit," he said.

Foster spoke at a press conference in City Hall surrounded by six members of a new task force that will work to unify city residents if the Lens prevails and develop a process for planning a new pier if voters reject it.

That group, called the 828 Alliance, includes members of the Stop the Lens campaign, Lens supporters and community leaders.

Foster said he stands by his opinion that the current inverted pyramid cannot be salvaged within the city's $50-million budget for a new pier but said the task force is "free to consider" keeping it.

"We're still seeking a permit, but, again, this committee is wide open to making recommendations to me," he said.

City officials must obtain permits from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Pinellas County before the City Council gives final approval to demolish The Pier, city development coordinator Chris Ballestra said.

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St. Pete mayor: Pier demolition could be delayed