This year is primed to be a big one in the future of the new St. Petersburg Pier. 

  • Pier construction set to pick up in 2017
  • City Development Managing Director Chris Balestra said the public will soon see progress
  • Construction set to begin in May

The year 2017 marks the beginning of construction on the new pier and pier approach. The project has been in the works for more than a year but so far, it has only been on a drawing board. 

For the last four years, the pier has been more demolition than development. 

The area is considered twenty six acres of prime real estate waiting for a rebirth. City Development Managing Director Chris Balestra said the public will soon finally start to see the pier move from concept to construction.  

Balestra said a noticeable change along the Promenade is a tram stop, wrapping around a market place. 

"The Marketplace is a big deal," Balestra said. "Again, this is year round, seven days a week. Hours are to be determined, but it provides a nice atmosphere with activity. 

"Previously, you had to go about 3,500 feet to get to something. Now, this will be the beginning of many destinations along the way."

He also said 2nd Avenue North will disappear as the approach to the pier. That will be turned into pedestrian space but some aspects will be kept. 

"The Museum of History stays put as it is," he said. "In fact they'll have better parking access than they do today."

Balestra also said the Potacarpus trees in the area will remain as is. In fact, he said the mature trees will be joined by newly planted trees.

Mainly, Balestra said, a lot of concrete is going to go away. Shade, comfort and cover are the guiding principals to the redesign of the massive park. And all of this before visitors even get to what will be the new signature pier landmark. 

And, the Spa Beach area will not look the same. 

"It'll never look like this again," Balestra said. "Nope. You're going to transition from a wonderful civic plaza, right down to the beach. There'll be public showers. The ability to clean off. You have a children's splash pad nearby. A lot of activity." 

Some of the old piers piling will remain in the water. 

"Those pilings were retained specifically to maintain and to be able to teach the ecology," Balestra said. "The growth that's handed down to us over generations. Those pilings go back to 1926."

But other than that nod to the past and a few others, Balestra said he only sees the future now for the pier area. City officials anticipate a groundbreaking in May.

"It is within our grasp," he said. "We are right on the edge. We hope to get a permit very shortly and you'll see construction over water within the next few months."