St. Pete Catalyst; Published By Mark Parker
First opened in 1917, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club’s downtown facility has served as a waterfront landmark for over a century; however, father time and mother nature have caught up to the historic building.
Brian K. Smith, club president, notified members of the impending demolition and redevelopment project in a letter Tuesday. The decision stems from a “well-qualified” architectural firm’s study and over 20 focus group sessions.
Participants listed their desired improvements for the building at 11 Central Avenue, which officials determined were cost-prohibitive. In addition, the letter states the need for an elevator, roof, tiki and pool deck replacement, electrical repairs and an updated kitchen.
“It became evident that remodeling of the clubhouse to accommodate all of the changes desired by the membership would simply not be practical,” Smith wrote. “But most importantly, we would end up with a remodeled building which would not comply with current FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) standards.”
Smith explained that the building’s floor elevation is six feet below current FEMA regulations, and the waterfront mainstay is no stranger to storms. Club archives state that the “Great Hurricane of October 1921” caused extensive flooding four years after the building opened. Read more
