ST. PETERSBURG — The three pier design team finalists must prove their worth Thursday before dozens of supporters, naysayers and a beleaguered six-member selection panel.
The stakes are high for Alfonso Architects, the St. Pete Design Group and ASD and its partners, the three teams competing for the $46 million pier project.
When last the selection committee met, it appeared to be leaning toward Alfonso's Alma idea, with Destination St. Pete Pier from the St. Pete Design Group and ASD's Pier Park coming in second and third in that order.
The teams will field a final battery of questions about their concepts Thursday as committee members try to determine which one will give St. Petersburg a new or renovated downtown waterfront landmark.
If social media is any indication, supporters of at least two teams are gearing up for a campaign that could prolong Thursday's meeting.
"Come out and show your city leaders that you support Destination St. Pete Pier," urges a "Stand up for Destination St. Pete Pier and Preservation of Our Iconic Landmark" event page. In an email, Tom Lambdon, founder of Vote on the Pier — the grass roots organization that solicited more than 20,000 petitions to save the inverted pyramid — said it's hosting the Facebook page so Destination St. Pete Pier supporters will "show up … and speak directly to the committee — using their three minutes each."
Early this week, more than six dozen people said they'd be there.
Also promoting the meeting is a Build the Pier Facebook page that features a rendering of Destination St. Pete Pier.
Not to be outdone, those for Pier Park — an apparent coalition of the supporters of Pier Park and the previously eliminated Blue Pier — are saying they "really need people to come and speak before the pier committee, on record, in favor of our city investing in public space." Pier Park "is the only design" of the three "that embodies public space," the site declares.
Another urges, "Come show your support for PIER PARK!" More than three dozen supporters could show up at City Hall on behalf of the proposal, according to the two sites.
While the public will be allowed to speak before committee members deliberate, the verbal onslaught may hold little sway on their decision.
The design teams first must address the committee's more than two dozen questions. For Alma, those include whether the concept conforms to regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration and can navigate Pinellas County's permitting requirements.
The designers of Destination St. Pete must answer questions about possible congestion from trams, private, emergency and food service vehicles, and pedestrian and cyclist safety on the pier approach. It is the only concept that will allow private vehicles on the approach for drop-off and pickup.
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Explore all your optionsLike Alma, Pier Park's designers also must soothe permitting concerns. And there are questions about the durability of the project's proposed floating docks and how they might be affected by a major storm.
Ultimately, state law requires that the mayoral committee rank the teams based on their qualifications. For the pier project, that will mean evaluating them on such criteria as experience and how their concepts conform to the $33 million construction budget and project schedule. Other criteria include an examination of permitting issues, operating and maintenance costs and proposed amenities. A controversial unscientific poll, won by Destination St. Pete Pier, also will be considered, though city officials have said no weights or percentages will be assigned to any criteria, including the survey.
The City Council will be asked to authorize contract negotiations with the top-ranked team.
Contact Waveney Ann Moore at wmoore@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2283. Follow @wmooretimes.