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Vote yes on Dali lease© St. Petersburg Times published October 18, 2002 The Salvador Dali Museum is a tremendous asset for the city of St. Petersburg. It holds one of the premier collections of Dali's work and attracts an international audience. More than 200,000 visitors annually flock to the museum, which sits on public, waterfront land leased from the city. While that lease is good for 10 more years, the museum is asking St. Petersburg residents for a 60-year extension. The lease question on the Nov. 5 ballot comes up at a time when the Dali board is making key decisions about the museum's future. The most obvious benefit of a lease that would expire in 2072 is that the museum would be eligible for government grants that require a long-term lease. Both city officials and private land owners have talked about offering the museum another site, one that is closer to downtown, but no firm proposal has been presented. The thinking is that the museum could boost downtown redevelopment, and pedestrian traffic could boost museum attendance. Some museum board members favor staying where they are, however, and want to renovate the facility, making it more secure against hurricanes and adding more space for visiting exhibitions and classrooms. If the museum chooses to renovate its existing building, it will need a longer lease. The question for voters, then, is whether the Dali Museum is worthy of a lease extension. The Times recommends a YES vote.
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