St. Petersburg officials are grilled on waterfront plans
The Bayfront Center, the Mahaffey, a new park and a new Dali Museum are the hot topics at a Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting.
By CARRIE JOHNSON
Published October 17, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - City officials are calling plans to turn the Bayfront Center into a performing arts complex the most significant change to the city's waterfront in more than a generation.
But some residents are worried that the changes won't go far enough toward creating a space that is appealing and accessible to everyone in St. Petersburg.
On Thursday night, the two sides came together during a meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.
From the design of a new Salvador Dali Museum to the accessibility of a proposed waterfront park, the association members grilled city officials about their plans, which include moving the Dali to the site now occupied by the Times Arena at the Bayfront Center, which is scheduled for demolition.
The state would acquire the Dali's former site for use by the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. The Mahaffey Theater would be substantially renovated, and a waterfront park and concert venue would be added.
Several residents urged city officials to rethink the placement of the parking deck that currently serves the Bayfront Center to make the site more open to pedestrians.
"Right now, it still looks like an isolated area," said Elinor Gollay. "It could be anywhere. And people will have to drive to it. We need something that people can walk to that flows into downtown."
But Development Administrator Rick Mussett said it doesn't make sense to tear down the parking deck if they're trying to lure more people to the area.
"It's a good, functional garage," Mussett said. "Do we want to tear it down knowing we're going to replace it?"
He estimated it would cost taxpayers $7-million for a new garage. The cost of renovating the Mahaffey and adding the park is estimated at $19.4-million.
To defray some of that cost, the city turned to local businessman Bill Edwards, who owns Mortgage Investors Corp. Edwards has agreed to donate $8-million and loan the city $2.4-million as part of a five-year contract. If at the end of five years the city agreed to renew the contract, Edwards would forgive the loan.
But, as several members noted, Edwards would keep any profits made at the Mahaffey and the new outdoor venue. The city would also continue to pay a $1.47-million annual subsidy for the theater, which will go to the management company owned by Edwards.
Joe Vulgamore, a city resident and member of the Albert Whitted Advisory Task Force, said that when the city's subsidy is factored in, Edwards is really paying about $250,000 a year.
"It's coming out of one pocket and going into another," Vulgamore said.
But Mussett said Edwards' upfront gift would allow the city to move forward with the Mahaffey renovations in time to preserve next year's theater season.
"You don't want to go dark too long in this business," Mussett said. "People will start to forget you."
The City Council is expected to hold a workshop on the issue Oct. 25. The council could vote on the Mahaffey proposal as soon as Nov. 4.
Voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the Dali's move during the Nov. 2 election. Museum director Hank Hine urged residents to vote yes to the two ballot questions relating to the museum, saying it would help them achieve their goal of creating a first-rate facility.
"We see this as our opportunity to move from being a protector of the Dali collection," Hine said, "to being a world-class promoter."
