St. Petersburg’s ‘Center for the Arts’ gets a makeover

Much has changed in the plans for the City of St. Petersburg’s proposed “Center for the Arts.” In April, design consultants appeared before City Council with statistics, and full-color renderings of how the area including and surrounding the Dali Museum and the Mahaffey Theater could be somehow unified under one banner.

Initially, the massive project (from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue South), included the construction of a convention center, and the demolition of Al Lang Stadium. An amphitheater was considered.

After discussion and consultation with key stakeholders, and residents, those unpopular propositions were nixed. Additions and subtractions were made.

Consultant John Curran, of the ASD | Sky design firm, appeared before the Economic and Workforce Development Committee Thursday, accompanied by Beth Hendereen, Managing Director for the City’s Development Administration.

Along with previously-planned expansions of the Dali and the Mahaffey, the proposal includes the demolition of the existing parking garage that serves them both, and the construction of a 1,100-car garage at a different location.

Also proposed, and applauded by committee members, was the addition of greenspace both as aesthetic and between-the-buildings buffering purposes. This would bring the area in line with the Waterfront Master Plan of 2020.

Additional proposals include a four-story office/rehearsal space for The Florida Orchestra, and a center and ticketing office for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, adjacent to Al Lang Stadium.

Curran introduced these proposed changes:

Constructing a pedestrian sidewalk along the water’s edge on Bayshore Drive, with designated overlook areas;

Enhancing trail connectivity between Bayshore Drive and 1st Street SE;

Establishing a pedestrian connection at 4th Ave SE and 1st Street South to Bayshore Drive;

Integrating additional cultural and civic spaces, along with ground-level retail, into the parking structures surrounding the Mahaffey and the Dali;

Evaluating opportunities for parks, recreation and cultural arts, including the Saturday Morning Market

Redesigning the Saturday Morning Market/Al Lang parking lot into a versatile outdoor event venue;

Establishing a dedicated paddock area for the St. Petersburg Grand Prix.

The overall idea, he explained in his presentation, is “activating the public space within and around this waterfront space.”

While committee members agreed that the vision of the new Center was impressive, as well as the proposed economic impact to the area, several noted that one element was missing from the new Curran/Hendereen presentation: The price tag.

“We can agree to tear this down, build this here, put this up, move this around,” said City Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders, “but if we don’t know how much that’s going to cost in taxpayer dollars, a guestimate, I think that’ll have a whole lot of impact on the design of what it is we’re looking to do.”

In April, the ASD | Sky conceptual plan, it was announced, would cost $289.2 million.

Curran stepped around the question Thursday. “We did do probable cost,” he said. “At this level of design, we’re not providing the details.

“We have had conversations with the Dali; we have ideas and estimates. And we talked to The Florida Orchestra, what they’re contemplating in terms of what they need for their budget as well. And then we have general good ideas of what a garage is going to cost in terms of today’s dollars.

“And, a really significant amount of this is greenspace and parkland, and what that would cost when we’re dealing with utilities.”

He hesitated to declare a final cost because so much of the project is still in the conceptual stage. “If we’re asked to go into more detail on the cost, we could do that.”

The committee will re-convene, with Curran, early in 2026.