St. Petersburg Takes Control of $165M Marina Redevelopment Project

St. Petersburg will run the overhaul of its 640-slip downtown marina after cutting ties with Safe Harbor Marinas in late 2025. City officials are hammering out a contract with Skanska and Cummins Cederberg for pre-construction services on the $165.45 million project.

Officials dropped talks with the private company. They shifted to a city-run model that preserves complete ownership and control of the waterfront facility. This move allows St. Petersburg to retain every dollar the marina generates while hitting targets for storm protection and water quality.

"We had the opportunity to listen to feedback from the last agreements, council meetings, workshops, community groups, and take all that and put it into what our scope is right now," St. Pete Engineering Director Brejesh Prayman said during Thursday's Public Services and Infrastructure Committee meeting, according to St. Pete Rising.com.

Both firms have collaborated with the city before on the St. Pete Pier and the Citywide Seawall Master Plan.

"Why is this more beneficial than a P3 [public-private partnership]? It's a city-owned asset, and this removes the misconception that we are giving it away to a private entity," Prayman added.

The work involves swapping out docks and upgrading utilities in the Central and South Basins. Workers will tear down the west dock house in the Central Basin. The north dock house gets a complete replacement, while the south dock house will offer expanded services.

Crews will rebuild seawalls across both basins and reconstruct the Demens Landing Bridge. The plan uses living seawalls and hybrid coastal construction to pump up water quality. Fencing comes down. Dock layouts get reconfigured to open up better public access along the water.

The fuel station struggles when high tides roll in. It'll be replaced. Fresco's Waterfront Bistro at 2nd Avenue NE and Bayshore Drive NE faces demolition to clear space for seawall replacement beneath it. Whether Fresco's returns after construction wraps up remains uncertain.

"I have a lot of concern about this restaurant being displaced and having been in business for more than 20 years," committee member Gina Driscoll said. "We need to make sure we are being respectful and honoring a longtime tenant and part of the waterfront experience."

About $84.83 million will fund utility upgrades and dock replacements. Another $54.22 million is earmarked for improvements like living or hybrid seawalls.

Tax Increment Financing will supply $65 million for the first phase. Prayman said the facility should generate enough revenue to handle the remaining $100 million debt. The marina stays open during construction.

City Council will see the final agreement in June. If they approve it, the project rolls out in phases, each needing separate approvals.