City Defends 'Lens' Building Materials, Critics Skeptical

Members of city staff staunchly defended the proposed "Lens" pier building materials and where the city is in the design process for the new pier during a workshop Thursday afternoon.

The workshop was in response to questions brought about by Concerned Citizens for St. Petersburg, also known as Stop the Lens, and other city residents about the feasibility and longevity of the "Lens" building materials. 

Stop the Lens members argued that the materials proposed to build the "Lens" have not been tested over saltwater conditions and the city is assuming a huge security and financial risk by moving forward with the "Lens" design. 

"We are not against new designs," Bud Riser with Stop the Lens said. "...New things come with risk."

Concerned Citizens of St. Petersburg president Bill Ballard called the "Lens" design an "experiment" that the taxpayers are on the hook for.  

City staff said they and the Michael Maltzan Architecture team have met with the fire marshal, marine science experts and outside consultants to ensure the building materials can withstand Tampa Bay. 

Public works administrator Mike Connors and city architect Raul Quintana defended the "Lens" canopy and over design but said further tests had to be made and that more specifics will come as "Lens" enters the next design phase. (For changes to the design announced Thursday, see list below). 

More specifics of the next design phase, Quintana said, would be shared at the May 2 council meeting. At that meeting, council will vote on the next phase of funding for the "Lens." 

Later Thursday evening, council member Wengay Newton's proposal to delay closing the pier failed. 

Changes of note and specifics announced for the "Lens" 

• The lower overwater drive is now 22ft wide instead of 20ft. 
• The upper pathway, called the overwater bridge, has been widened from 10ft to 12ft. 
• The lower overwater drive will have 10 feet in the middle designated for a tram and service vehicles with six feet on each side for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Trams will not move at more than 5 mph and will take take three minute and 36 seconds to drive the length of the pier
• The "Lens' canopy will be designed with a series of metals and aluminum that is expected to last 75 years. 
• In case of fire, it would take 2 minutes to get into a safety zone and 13 minutes to completely evacuate the pier. 
• Capacity for the "Lens" will be 5,954 people. 
• New trams will be open-air trams and be no more than 6ft wide. 

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