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Museum, mayor wrestle for park

Pressured to give the city back a piece of Straub Park, the Museum of Fine Arts offers a compromise.

By CARRIE WEIMAR
Published February 2, 2006

	[Times photo (2004): Dirk Shadd]
	The Museum of Fine Arts, on Beach Drive NE, backs up to Bayshore Drive. Increased parking for it on Bayshore was part of a proposed compromise.

ST. PETERSBURG - Nothing sparks a fight in St. Petersburg like waterfront property.

For months, a 4.5-acre grassy square just north of the Museum of Fine Arts threatened to drive a wedge between Mayor Rick Baker and some of his biggest supporters.

But after weeks of intense, secret discussions, Baker said Wednesday he won a tentative agreement from the museum board preventing it from ever developing the property.

The square in question is lined by banyan trees and overlooks the Vinoy Yacht Basin. Most people assume it is part of Straub Park and belongs to the city.

Baker thought so, too, until he researched the issue last year and discovered nearly half of what is considered Straub Park was actually given to the museum by the city in 1961.

"I was dismayed the property was given away, absolutely," Baker said. "I'm a student of history, and I know how hard it was for the city to acquire that parkland. They had to acquire it piece by piece."

Baker said the land would be better protected from development if it were part of the waterfront park system. He asked the museum's board to give it back to the city. Board members refused.

So began negotiations that threatened to cut ties between Baker and some of his most ardent supporters. Several of the museum's board members, including board president Carol Upham, gave generously to Baker's last campaign.

But with the museum about to embark on an ambitious expansion project, Baker had an important bargaining chip.

Ownership of the 4.5 acres came to light because of a proposed expansion: a 25,000-square-foot wing on the north side of the museum. The current 33,000-square-foot building is too cramped, museum officials say, allowing just 10 percent of its collection to be displayed.

A new wing has also been proposed for the south side of the building after the north wing is completed.

Each wing will replace parking lots. The expansion wouldn't bleed into the 4.5 acres Baker wanted to reclaim but would create a serious parking crunch for the museum.

Baker offered a proposal: Give the city back the land, and the city will create angled parking spaces along Bayshore Drive specifically for the museum. Parking along Bayshore is currently parallel.

If they refused, Baker said he would oppose the expansion.

Board members said no. But Baker had the City Council on his side.

"The museum is truly an economic driver," said council member John Bryan. "I like the idea of having bigger and better shows there. But you've got to balance that against the value of a waterfront park system. I'm not for losing an inch of parkland."

Council Chairman Bill Foster said he didn't think the museum had much leverage.

"They're going to be completely dependent on the city to provide their parking needs," Foster said. "I think there's a reasonable solution to the situation. But both sides are sticking in a little bit."

James Dickson, a lawyer for the museum board, said he did not want to discuss details of the negotiations. Other board members did not return calls.

It was Dickson who proposed the compromise. He suggested creating a conservation easement on the 4.5 acres, which would protect the land from development in perpetuity.

The board's executive committee agreed to the proposal Monday. The full board is expected to vote this coming Monday.

Asked why the museum would agree to give up the right to build on its own property, Dickson laughed.

"You mean besides having our arms twisted?" he said.

Dickson went on to say he thought the easement was a good solution for both the city and the museum.

"The goal is to make the city happy and get our project through as planned," he said. "In order to be successful, you have to reach compromise."

Due to easement and drainage requirements, it was unlikely the museum would have ever used that parcel for development, Dickson added.

Darryl Paulson, a University of South Florida professor who teaches a course in St. Petersburg politics, said Baker may be flexing his political muscles after winning a landslide victory in November.

"There's no doubt that he's interested in an executive position down the road, such as governor," Paulson said. "He may be trying to demonstrate he has some political clout and he's going to use it."

Baker said he's satisfied with the result, if it's approved by the museum board. The proposal would also need City Council approval before it is finalized.

"I don't want to characterize it as a win by me or a loss for the museum," Baker said. "I see it as a group of friends getting together and trying to identify what they were trying to accomplish. I'm pleased we were able to do that."

[Last modified February 2, 2006, 06:10:04]