St. Pete Downtown Partnership Supports Marina Redevelopment

Dear Chair, Vice Chair, and Council Members,

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership supports efforts to redevelop the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina. There is broad consensus about the need to reinvest and redevelop this signature feature of our downtown and we know this process has been in the works since 2017.

As you know, the downtown waterfront is one of the main assets that makes our City special. The Marina is a significant part of this urban amenity. Redevelopment of the Marina will complement the efforts that have been made with the St. Pete Pier, Beach Drive, and the Waterfront Parks over many years.

After conversations between our Executive Committee and the City’s Development Administration Team we understand the potential benefits of preserving bonding capacity through private financing. We also believe this developer-operator has the necessary skills to successfully manage this project. We acknowledge that this strategy means that the City may forgo potential future revenues and recognize that you must weigh this consideration into your decision. We believe, overall, that a public-private management strategy is the right approach.

We strongly encourage the City to maintain full control of this project through a transparent approval process to ensure public interests are prioritized. We also encourage a robust public process as the project is designed and managed, including a potential future referendum. We sincerely appreciate the City’s efforts to find a creative solution to renovating our Municipal Marina.

Sincerely,

Jason Mathis

CEO

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