Pinellas News
Pier update on agenda for St. Pete council workshop today
TBO.com
Published: December 4, 2012
The St. Petersburg City Council will hold a workshop this afternoon to review and discuss updated plans for the Pier's new Lens design.Published: December 4, 2012
The workshop is at 1:30 p.m. at the council chambers, 175 Fifth St. N. It is open to the public.
Michael Maltzen, the architect of the Lens' design, is scheduled to attend.
Discussion is expected to cover tweaks made in the pier's design after input from local citizens, and the quality and cost of materials used in construction.
The council is scheduled to vote on a contract at Thursday morning's regular meeting to allow work to move forward on the $50 million project.
A local group, Concerned Citizens of St. Petersburg, opposes the plan and wants voters to decide whether to proceed. Former mayoral candidate Kathleen Ford filed suit against the city for not holding a public referendum. A court hearing regarding the suit is slated for Wednesday.
A concert in support of the project, billed as "Rock the Lens," was held Sunday at Jannus Landing. The event, which featured the band Arrested Development, was organized by WOWSTPETE, a group promoting the Lens design. Among the supporters is television pitchman Andrew Sullivan, a Pinellas County resident.
Representatives from the pro and opposition groups are expected to be at today's workshop.