City presents new vision and redevelopment concepts for Port of St. Petersburg
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For the first time in over two decades, the City of St. Petersburg is updating its master plan for the Port of St. Petersburg — a city-owned, 4.4-acre waterfront site just south of downtown.
Situated within the Innovation District and surrounded by key institutions like the University of South Florida to the west, Albert Whitted Airport to the north, and the U.S. Coast Guard to the east, the Port is seen as a uniquely positioned but underutilized asset.
In 1999, St. Pete City Council unanimously approved a $14.8 million plan to turn the site into a cruise ship port and an educational attraction called “Port Discovery.” But the project was ultimately scrapped after engineers later estimated the cost could exceed $72 million.
Now, the city is once again considering redevelopment options.
On June 25th, city officials and consultants from Moffatt & Nichol hosted a public meeting at The Coliseum to present three preliminary development scenarios and gather input from residents, business owners, and other stakeholders.
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A permanent ferry dock at the St. Pete Pier moved closer to reality Friday, as the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority celebrated $850,000 in newly secured federal funding for the future Tampa Bay Ferry terminal.
PSTA leaders joined U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, and representatives from Hubbard’s Marina at the Pier to announce the funding, which will help support a new dock near the St. Petersburg Museum of History.
The permanent facility is planned to include a security gate, ticket booth, and ADA-compliant access. It is expected to accommodate two ferry vessels at once, according to Captain Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina.
“This is a key piece in the puzzle,” PSTA CEO Brad Miller said during the event.
The federal funding, secured by Castor through the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, comes as PSTA prepares to relaunch passenger ferry service between downtown St. Pete and Tampa later this year.