Council Member Driscoll also expressed concern, saying, “We subsidize the Pier right now. We don’t need to take on something else to subsidize.”
City staff and consultants emphasized that the plan is not intended to be built all at once, but rather implemented in phases over 10-20 years, potentially supported by a combination of grants and public-private partnerships.
“We’re not looking to pay for it all at once. It’s going to be a phased approach,” said City Development Administrator David Wirth. “There are a lot of grant dollars out there for ports.”
Despite the debate, officials stressed that the proposal remains conceptual and does not represent a final decision.
“There has been zero input from the City Council and administration at this time,” said Driscoll. “We are simply taking in the results of the first part of developing a plan. What we will end up with will look very different.”
Council Member Mike Harting described the plan as a “dream board,” reflecting early ideas rather than a defined path forward.
Moffatt & Nichol is expected to continue refining the proposal before presenting a finalized version to the St. Petersburg City Council later this year, where a broader discussion will take place on the future of the port and its role in the city’s waterfront.