Recently my youngest daughter came for a visit. She lives back in Arizona at the moment and one of the reasons for the visit was an appt. that she had with a cosmetology school she wants to attend. So we made time for that and the rest of the 5 or so days she spent here was getting to know the area and doing a bit of sight-seeing, something I have not really been able to do myself until she came.
So one of our stops was the famed St. Petersburg pier, in of course, St Pete. This pier was originally opened somewhere in the late 1800's I believe with a rail way that was laid down here to help transport some of the goods that were shipped over from various parts of the world.
The pier itself was torn down and rebuilt in 1973 in a more modern-istic style (at least what was considered modern in those days - personally I love the "retro" look of it with the quirkiness of a Salvador Dali painting) and became the inverted pyramid that it is today. You can see it over the shoulder of my daughter in the picture and Tampa Bay on either side of the road/walkway leading up to the pier.
There has been some rumblings in the community that the powers that be, are discussing closing and/or demolishing the pier. It has not really been reno'd or updated to meet building codes since it was built and with the advent of the modern shopping experience ( malls big and small) it does not draw enough revenue through its little pyramid of eclectic shops that are housed with in it to pay for any such renovation.
Personally I think it would be a sad thing to see this very interesting landmark disappear. There is a grassroots organization of local businesses and residents who mark the area to save the St.Pete Pier....but who knows what will happen in this economy.
Enjoy
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