The Pier is going, going…
Halfway through its second week of demolition, St Petersburg’s famous Pier is beginning to lose its characteristic shape. The Pier was five stories high and opened in 1973. Over the years, it became an icon of the city.
NOW: By mid-October, the landmark will be gone.
In these photos, taken Sept. 23, demolition crews from Sonny Glasbrenner Inc., a Clearwater demolition company, had already removed a significant portion of the structure’s western face. The southwestern corner was collapsed Sept. 22, sending a loud sound wave reverberating across Beach Drive.
Shortly after these photos were taken the northwestern corner was collapsed in a similar manner. The exterior lattice work and pyramidal structure will be torn down, leaving the four central caisson supports. Since these caissons will be used to support the new structure, they will remain in the bedrock below Tampa Bay.
Demolition of the pyramid began Sept. 14, although removal of the first floor retail area began Aug.18. Sonny Glasbrenner has a contract with the city to remove the Pier in a 60-day time frame; the entire building is expected to be removed by Oct. 23. The Pier head and approach will be demolished by February 2016, with pieces going to Albert Whitted Airport for seawall restoration.
Construction of a new pier – a $46 million structure called Pier Park – is scheduled to begin in early 2017.
