Aerial St. Pete: Construction updates for six downtown St. Pete developments
/The latest edition of Aerial St. Pete shows the progress on several downtown developments. Aerial St. Pete is a column by St. Pete Rising which features exclusive aerial photography of projects under construction in St. Petersburg, FL. To accomplish this, we team up with Anthony Bove at AB3 Visuals.
Earlier this month we reported on several of the high profile tower projects under construction in downtown. In this article we are taking a look at six other projects in downtown St. Pete which are in various stages of construction. Some are in the demolition stage while other are topped out and closer to completion. These projects include: Cordova Inn Expansion, Domus Urbana, Galaxy Hotel, Innovare, The Metro, and The Royal. We look forward to following these projects as they are completed.
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St. Petersburg has a rule that protects our waterfront. If the city wants to lease public waterfront land for longer than a short term, voters decide. That rule is worth keeping, and a "yes" vote on Charter Amendment #2 does not weaken it.
Here is what it changes. Under the City Charter, Port leases are capped at 10 years unless voters approve more in a citywide referendum. Charter Amendment 2 would raise that cap to 25 years, the same limit Albert Whitted Airport has had since 2004, when voters raised it from five years. Giving the Port the same terms as its neighbor is sensible.
Here is what it does not change. The ballot language says the amendment "would not change the permitted use of the Port." It does not approve residential development at the site, and it does not approve any redevelopment of the Port. It changes one number, the maximum lease length. Every lease would still go through the city administration and City Council. The amendment does not hand anyone a blank check. It lets the city negotiate from a stronger position.