St. Petersburg Pier

The St. Petersburg Pier, known locally as The Pier, is a landmark and tourist destination extending into Tampa Bay from downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. The Pier features a five-story inverted pyramid-shaped building. Constructed in 1973, it was designed by St. Petersburg architect William B. Harvard, Sr.. May 31, 2013 was the last official day for the public to visit the pier. The City of St. Petersburg, Florida had planned to demolish and replace it, until a voter referendum rejected the new Lens pier design.Before its closure, activities and sights offered at the pier included shopping, dining, nightlife, fishing, boat rentals, weekly festivals, and the Pier Aquarium. The aquarium was located on the second floor. A branch of Ybor City's Columbia Restaurant was on the fourth floor and Cha Cha Coconuts Tropical Bar and Grill on the fifth floor. The first floor included a Concierge Center, specialty shops and galleries, Waterside Grill & Bar, and the Dockside Eatery food court with burgers, pizza, ice cream and Chinese. Local bands were featured in Courtyard by the Bay every Sunday afternoon.In a straw-poll vote (5-3) after a two-hour workshop on August 18, 2010, the St. Petersburg City Council accepted Mayor Bill Foster's recommendation to demolish the current Pier. A binding vote, 7–1, was taken at an August 26 meeting. On January 20, 2012, the St. Petersburg Pier International Design Competition Jury unanimously selected Michael Maltzan Architecture's "The Lens" as the d