Baywalk Demolition Begins
A construction fence cordons off most of the outdoor mall in downtown St. Pete, as buildings that make up the mall are torn down.
Baywalk is fast fading into St. Petersburg history.
The Spanish-style outdoor mall's opening in 2000 had marked the start of the revitalization of downtown St. Petersburg.
Now the largely vacant mall is being reduced to rubble to make way for a new development. Only the Muvico Theater and Happy Feet, the Birkenstock store, were open Saturday, with most of the mall fenced off, as demolition has started.
The project is being headed by Bill Edwards. In March he presented to the St. Petersburg City Council his vision for the future of Baywalk.
As you walk into the complex now, Edwards said, it is like you are walking into a fortress. "It's uninviting," he said.
"We will be taking the box office out of there and opening it up," Edwards said at the March city council meeting. "Want to get rid of that and have an open courtyard."
According to Edwards, the project is slated to last 12-13 months.
Edwards said retailers being brought into the complex are nationally known and will be accessible to all people of St. Petersburg. He said it is crucial for downtown St. Pete to have retail options nearby.
"Put in ladies' clothing, men’s clothing, shoes – things that you can’t buy downtown (right now)," Edwards said. Currently, "You have to go over the bridge, go to the mall."
The future complex, which will be renamed, will have three "very iconic" restaurants to anchor the complex.
Edwards is the CEO of Mortgage Investors Corp, and The Club at Treasure Island. He also runs a music production company that last year won the city's contract to manage the Mahaffey Theater. He is also presenting this year's Taste of Pinellas.
Roland Martino
10:19 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
I agree that clothing stores are needed. That has been a problem living for myself living downtown and also guests visiting our B&B.
CJ
10:43 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Why do they tear cool things down in this city instead of trying to make them work? It's hard to believe that the problems here at Baywalk and The Pier couldn't be fixed by implementing security that will be be perceived as permanet instead of just temporary. If they can't do that...then they can tear things down and rebuild all they want over and over and all you will have left is the same problems that drove customers away in the first place. The Pier could use some sprucing up..but that is all it needs...and this was a beautiful mall. Only 12 years old?!? What a shameful waste of money in hard times.
Catherine
4:41 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
I'm in total agreement with you CJ. Costs more money to tear down and then totally rebuild - our money, as taxpayers. Yes, there are locals [hopefully locals!] being employed to tear down and rebuild, yet that's not enough for me to justify these total tear downs and more expensive rebuildings.
Helen
11:19 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Too true CJ. I bet all the available tax deductions, grants, and endowments for both properties plays some small part in the decisions to tear them down. We've lost a terrible number of historic buildings in the Downtown and Old Northeast areas to the same "newer is better" attitude our area seems to encourage.
cherylwithac
10:49 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
I hope they'll put AFFORDABLE clothing stores there. Except for the millionaires along Beach Drive and the tourists, who else can afford to buy at places like the Black/White shop for women? Certainly not the middle class. That's one of the main reasons for the collapse of Baywalk. It wasn't that it was uninviting. Go ahead and tear down the walls, but the problem was that most people couldn't afford anything but a movie there (hence the longevity of the movie theater). Same thing for restaurants. I don't know what's meant by "iconic" exactly, but I hope that there will be some sandwich shops, a pizza place, and a coffeehouse. And I hope that alcohol will not be the main draw. That is just courting trouble.
NOVA 535 Unique Event Space
11:51 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Removing the old Wet Willies piece of Baywalk is the right move so now instead of a fortress it will be open and inviting. Adding iconic restaurants, especially at the corners so they are visible from the surrounding streets would further increase the welcoming appeal of this center - which are all great things for our fine city. Please please add a men's clothing store like Zara, something fashionable yet still affordable. In any case - THANKS BILL EDWARDS !!
Roz Rolle
2:23 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Iv'e never seen such a pricey venture fail so badly and quickly.. It seems to me that even with the restructure, if all the citzens of the city are not welcomed, nobody will be welcomed.
cherylwithac
1:39 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
I'm not sure that residents of the city will go to a "new" Baywalk. We're all pretty much worn out by the decline of the first one. BTW, Edwards is out for $$$ for himself. He's not doing his civic duty. He's a businessman looking to make a buck.
Catherine
4:43 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Curious .. will CHICOS continue to stay open during this restructuring? Sure hope so!
Phil
10:24 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
so stupid to bring in high end places to eat, why not something with affordable prices for families and seniors to eat for under $10 a meal, a Apple Store, a bakery, a coffee shop maybe a bike shop to further encourage bike riding instead of using a car. Why not a bookstore, a art gallery, a toy shop for kids, and why not just rebuild it instead of tearing it down. No more movies downtown ??? what a stupid greedy fool this guy is .. I just don't understand the idea of tearing down things instead of preserving things.