More than 18 months after Hurricane Helene battered the Seventh Avenue Pass-a-Grille Pier in St. Pete Beach, the beloved landmark remains closed — and residents are losing patience.
The pier was damaged by Helene’s storm surge in September 2024, which buckled and dislodged several planks. Since then, it has sat idle, frustrating locals who say they can’t get a straight answer on when repairs will begin.
“I don’t know why it’s taking too long,” said resident Jeff Catanzarita. “We can’t ever really get a solid answer like, ‘This is going to happen at such and such a day.’ We don’t get that.”
City Commissioner Jon Maldonado acknowledged the delays, pointing primarily to the county permitting process. He said the city is currently waiting for Pinellas County to approve the necessary permits, and that while FEMA insurance reimbursement was initially slow, that issue has since been resolved.
The FEMA reimbursement totals $96,000, which officials say should cover all repair costs. Maldonado noted the pier is structurally sound and requires only cosmetic work.
The city has engaged an engineering consultant to handle design and permitting. If the permit is approved soon, Maldonado said he expects repairs to wrap up around August or September.
“Once the city has removed all of the dangerous planks that have been busted up and things like that, it should go very quickly,” he said.
The pier has roots dating to the 1930s. It was originally built as a dock by St. Pete Beach pioneers Mary Jane and John Ott, who later agreed to sell it to the city upon his death — a transaction that occurred in 1960 for $4,000.
For residents like Catanzarita, the closure is a blemish on one of the area’s most scenic spots. “Pass-a-Grille is a beautiful place,” he said. “People come here from all over the state — and they look at this eyesore.”
Maldonado urged patience. “Hang in there with us,” he said. “We’re going to get this fixed and restored — and even better than it was originally.”
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