As reported by the St. Pete. Catalyst, Critically damaged St. Pete seawall costs soar.
According to Brejesh Prayman, engineering and capital improvements director for the City of St. Petersburg, the cost to replace just sidewalk and seawall at the Vinoy Yacht Basin is $3.38 million. I say just, because the article points out that “St. Petersburg officials have long known that repetitive flooding and sea level rise have rendered miles of aging seawall functionally obsolete. And the city has 244 miles of shoreline.
Again, per the article, the city launched a Citywide Seawall Inspection, Renovation and Replacement project in 2021…. and “once complete in late 2025, it could potentially list $1 billion in projects.”
Along with $5 billion of needed sewer and stormwater improvements, how can the city afford to borrow $600 million to help billionaires build a stadium?
