BayWalk sidewalk, security plan moves forward

ST. PETERSBURG - The City Council voted 7-1 Thursday to move forward with a controversial plan to privatize the sidewalk fronting BayWalk and improve security at downtown's struggling entertainment complex.

Council members stressed that the vote merely signified the start of a long public discussion.

"Nothing takes place today other than starting the public hearing process," said Council Chairman Jeff Danner.

Council member Wengay Newton cast the lone dissenting vote. 

At least two public hearings and three affirmative votes from two different St. Petersburg government bodies need to occur before the sidewalk giveaway is finalized. City Attorney John Wolfe said the final vote might not happen until October.

The retail and restaurant complex, which opened to great fanfare in 2000, has been plagued by financial troubles in the past two years and now sits more than half vacant.

The measure is part of a $700,000 effort to bolster security and upgrade the sidewalks and other areas around BayWalk, once a symbol of downtown's economic potential. Mayor Rick Baker says a key part of the plan is privatizing the public sidewalk bordering BayWalk's front entrance to eliminate frequent protests that some say have hurt business.

If the sidewalk along the north side of Second Avenue N was private property, BayWalk's owners could more easily remove rabble-rousers and cite repeat offenders for trespassing, proponents argue.

BayWalk's owners said they intend to invest $6 million in reviving BayWalk. The private money largely would go to attract new restaurant and retail tenants.

Keeping the sidewalk public is a "deal breaker," officials representing the property owners said.

"Tenants are not going to rent space in the property if that is not accomplished," said the local property manager, Thomas McGeachy of Ciminelli Real Estate Services.

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership support the plan, as do many BayWalk tenants.

But critics say the effort would quash the public's constitutional right to demonstrate on public land. They consider BayWalk St. Petersburg's town square, a gathering spot for public debate.

More than 30 protestors stood outside City Hall holding banners, placards and chanting slogans Thursday to speak out against the sidewalk vacation.

"Civil liberties are not bad for the economy," said Chris Ernesto, an organizer for St. Pete for Peace, a group that demonstrated regularly at BayWalk in the past. "The city has to consider whether civil liberties are worth $6 million."

Newton and two other council members expressed concern about the city giving away public land.

Council member Jim Kennedy asked the city's legal department to add language to the resolution to start the vacation process that recognized concerns about the land giveaway.

It reads, "concerns regarding pedestrian access to the north side of 2nd Avenue North and the ability of people to assemble and to express themselves and sufficient alternatives therefore may be discussed and considered at the two public hearings which must be conducted."

Council member Herb Polson said the proposed land giveaway made him uncomfortable.

"As public officials it is our responsibility to represent everybody," he said, not just the business community.

This isn't the first time Baker's administration has attempted to banish protestors from BayWalk.

In 2004, a proposal to establish a "no protest zone" outside the popular entertainment complex was quickly dropped because critics protested the plan.

But Danner said this latest attempt to quell demonstrations can't be easily dismissed because it addresses BayWalk's struggles with a multipronged plan.

"The proposal isn't just to vacate the sidewalk and that's going to solve everything," he said.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

*

Comments

[Yo in tampa]

Do these protesters have jobs? Get a job and a life!

[Native]

Baywalk is not the town square, yes it is a gathering spot for children who think it is a baby sitter and for "protesters"....both discourage me from attending baywalk...privatize the sidewalks

[Native]

edit above....gathering spot for children whose parents think it is a babysitter

[COMMON SENSE]

Looks like the majority of St. Pete doesn't like the protesters either.

[Blazin]

So… in effect… 6 of the 7 St. Pete City Council Members have a complete disregard for our Republic, as governed by a Democracy, which is protected by the Constitution of these United States of America.

And; thereby; have made it clear to the owners of these United States of America – those of course being its citizens – that if you wish to publicly question your elected government or its actions on your behalf, you shall be punished by virtue of the removal of your Constitutional rights.

--- You may now begin to spin this any way you chose… but now matter how you spin it, you can never refute – with any authentic credibility – the reality of the context of my statement above.

This is yet another act of complete disgrace toward this nation and its founding principles, and another precarious black-eye on American liberties. Somehow I think this was not the “change” so many hoped for when we elected to go in a different direction on Election Day, 2008. But it is a valuable piece of information every St. Pete voter should remember whenever the members of the now infamous “St. Pete 6” ask for your vote once more, and/or just a few weeks from now.

But what do I know; “Mongo only pawn in game of life.”

[Mel & Co.]

This is MY city, MY Mayor, MY Council, and YOU and they will follow MY rules... and don’t YOU ever forget it!

Now shut up and pay your damn taxes… ‘cause big daddy has some bad investments to cover.

[Pete]

They need to privatize the Uhurus compound in Midtown and build a Dollar General there. Then we can all be happy.

[Kevin]

I love how these hacks express “concern” or state that it makes the “uncomfortable”… but then do as directed by the puppet master. Where was that great Democrat and defender of civil liberties, Karl Nurse; is there any question anymore as to who he takes his marching orders from?

[Fed Up]

Civil liberties to protest is one thing, but how about the rest of us who would like to enjoy a movie or a dinner out without being hassled or without feeling afraid. Don't we have those rights as well?!? The last time I went to Baywalk for dinner, I had a very good meal and an enjoyable experience right up until someone got shot on that very sidewalk!!

[Fed Up with ineffective leadership]

Gutting the Constitution will not change that, Fed Up.

I will not return to Baywalk because of this action taken by the council. If I want to live in communist china, i'll move there.

[Kinky]

If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? If a protest group pickets in a vacant storefront, does anyone care?

[Steve]

The protesters were not the problem. They showed up a couple of times a month for an hour or so. They never hassled me or kept me from visiting Bay Walk.

Now, when all the irresponsible parents of Pinellas county started unleashing their unattended, monstrous progeny on the the public and gunfire erupted, yeah I stopped going down there.

The cops need to pick up anyone under 18 who are unattended by a parent after 10PM. Take those kids to the police station and hold them until their parents pick them up. On the third offense the parents should be locked up for the weekend. That would have solved Bay Walk's problems.

Parents, keep your kids off the streets.

[“It’s another Great Day in St. Communistburg”]

Welcome to Bay “Walk” only where we tell you to! Have a great time… and remember; we’re watching you.

[Deb]

Privatizing is an easy out for the City Council, relieving them of their responsibility to ensure public safety and to enable business to thrive. What will happen when protesters gather, as suggested in an earlier version of this story by Council Member Bill Dudley "across the street..to do their freedom of speech"? I used to frequent Beautiful BayWalk often and no longer do for the same reasons deterring so many others. Protestors "across the street" or a few blocks removed in either direction will not make me any more comfortable. (I was there one evening where things were escalating to the point of police involvement. No thanks.) Who's gonna pay for the privatization -- in the final analysis? Think aout it.

[Dave in St Pete]

I have no problem with this as long as the property is sold to the company, not given. The company should be held responsible for maintaining the side walks and there should be written into the contract that the side walks are a public easement.

[Oh what tangled webs we weave, aye Karl?]

I wonder if Nurse will retain his “favorite son” status with the Pinellas County Stonewall Executive Committee (formerly the PCDEC), now that he’s shown his true colors as an appointed lackey to the man.

Will the Stonewalls stand strong on their “Equality and Liberty for ALL”… or will their blatant hypocrisy rear its ugly head again?

Tune in next time to… “As the Stomach Turns”

[Doug]

WOO HOO!!!!! We're taking back OUR streets by taking it away from those entitlement "protest everything" idiots!!!!!

[Doug]

So what's Wengay's problem....no more free babysitting for him and his wife on date night??

[protestors crapped in their own nest]

Why protest on a giant commercial property that has lost all its appeal? Seems to me the protestors succeeded in choking it. Congrats, you succeeded in taking down The Man. Now our tax dollars are at work trying to save a ruined public investment.

But the real question is why do people protest the people who are simply going to dinner and a movie? Seems to me they should have been protesting at MacDill, Young's office, or any office that is an apparatus of the federal government. Why don't they protest at the frickin' HQ of Progress Energy- who bills us in advance for a nuke plant? There's something strategic for ya. Don't let it hurt your brain.

Whining about Baywalk now is a waste of time.

[tracy]

great job in passing this by city council. who do these people think they are,where they can come in and destroy the great city life that we have.we went down there on a friday night and said "forget it" not with those yahoo's down there! now it might be different and then once again,we will go to baywalk.time will tell.

[Agapitos]

The Baker Record:
1.Baywalk a failure.
2.The Pier a failure.
3.Crime rising.
4.City & Minority relations are awful.
5.Tierre Verde annexation beieved to be illegal.
The Result: Mayor Baker wants to be SPC President!

[Philosopher]

And let's not forget Baker's brilliant work on the Rays stadium.

[Response to Protestors crapped]

Hit the nail on the head!! Why there? If you want your voices heard -go to the source of change. All you did was alienate many others who may have agreed with you otherwise.

[These anti-American fools have to go]

Let’s see now… we have no money to hire more law enforcement, protect our families, keep our streets safe, improve a crumbling infrastructure, protect jobs and services, help the indigent, or improve open government standards… BUT… we can pay for a new baseball stadium, give away public lands to private interests, and cover the cost of what is certain to be a costly and losing civil liberties court battle.

Oh yeah… these are quality leaders alright… just chock-full of intelligence, integrity, and ethics… and who keep the best interests of the citizens in mind at all times.

[Adolf Hitler, Member in Good Standing of the St. Pete City Council]

Kill all zee protesters… zen get zee jews un zee fags un zee neegras un anyvun who dizagrrees viz duh rrrich vite peoples!