New 'Lens' Pier Info to be Released

Updated and more detailed plans of the "Lens" pier are scheduled to be released Monday on the city of St. Petersburg's website. 

Update: More than 700 pages of the basis of design plan were released by the Michael Maltzan Architecture team Monday evening. They can be read online. 

The new information includes updated programming, measurements, expenses and overall design, according to local architect and member of the Michael Maltzan team, Lisa Wannemacher. 

What Monday's released information does not include are several new renderings of the "Lens". Those will be released during a City Council pier workshop on Dec. 4.  

In September an updated Lens design was presented. Michael Maltzan Architecture said the design was adapted after public input. Changes to the design include adding additional shade structures along the pier approach, more dinning options over the water including an event space at the end of the rebuilt pier.

One significant change was the shifting of the "Hub" of the Lens. Originally, the Hub was positioned directly in front of the Lens. Now, it has been moved south to allow better views of the pier and the bay. 

Since September, Wannemacher has been continuing to meet with neighborhood associations and the public to gather more input on the design while the Maltzan team has continued to refine the "Lens."

On Dec. 4, that work will be presented to council at City Hall. 

The day after council's workshop on the new pier, the city will go to court for a lawsuit regarding the existing St. Petersburg Pier. The Dec. 5 scheduled court hearing is regarding the council's vote not to proceed with a public referendum on the future of the St. Petersburg Pier. 

Former mayor candidate Kathleen Ford filed the lawsuit in August on behalf of the thousands that signed VoteOnthePier.com's petition. According to county court documents, the city has asked for a dismissal. 

Lens Schedule

• St. Petersburg Pier is set to close on May 31, 2013
• Demolition of the inverted pyramid is slated for September 2013
• Construction on the Lens could begin in January 2014
• Lens should be completed by mid 2015.