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Letter to the editor

'What do you think?'

City officials celebrate a new airport terminal.

By CRISTINA SILVA, Times Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007

The 10,600-square-foot Albert Whitted Municipal Airport terminal in St. Petersburg opened in November.
	[JAMES BORCHUCK | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [JAMES BORCHUCK | Times] Mayor Rick Baker hugs Ruth Mowling after giving her part of a ribbon used in Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony.

ST. PETERSBURG

Flight instructor Jack Tunstill had begun to doubt a terminal at Albert Whitted Municipal Airport would ever be built.

There was no money, city leaders said. Then there was even talk about closing the small airport to make way for a park or development.

But on Monday, after years of defending the airport and speaking out at countless City Council meetings, Tunstill stood in the newly constructed terminal and raised his hands.

"What do you think?" he called out to a roomful of cheering aviation enthusiasts and city officials during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the terminal. "This place is for you."

The $4-million terminal is the city's first major investment in Albert Whitted since discussion to close the airport spread in 2003. That year, city officials asked voters if it was time to pave over the facility. When the answer came back a resounding "no," the city made plans for capital improvements.

The two-story terminal opened in November. Much of the building is vacant, but city officials plan to lease the space to a restaurant, a car rental company and charter flight services.

A new playground is also set to open alongside the airport in January, and construction on a $2-million air traffic control tower will start in late spring at the earliest and last about a year.

On Monday, city officials heralded the long-awaited terminal.

"Finally we have a world-class terminal to call our own," said council chairman Jamie Bennett. "We are on the map."

Cristina Silva can be reached at 727 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 19, 2007, 07:29:41]