St. Petersburg City Council members received an update Thursday from design teams on their plans for how the approach to the St. Pete Pier will look.

  • Designers hope to incorporate business, parks and event space
  • Rendering of concept plan expected by end of July

“Now we're kind of at the point where we really understand all the issues,” said Barbara Wilks, principal with W Architecture. "And so getting this input, we'll be able to start putting it into focus.”

That focus will involve creating a seamless transition between the bustling and vibrant Beach Drive restaurant and shopping district and the new pier.

Councilman Jim Kennedy says he likes what he sees so far.

"I think it was a good discussion as to how intense is that development going to be, discussions of how many restaurants or how much green space," said Kennedy. "So I think we're going about it very methodically."

The designers hope to have a concept plan with rendering of the pier approach completed by the end of July.