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Tag: Josh Rojas

  • Former Pinellas film commissioner goes full circle as movie maker

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Former Pinellas County Film Commissioner Tony Armer has gone full circle as head of production for Talon Entertainment Finance and he wants to film movies in the Tampa Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tony Armer was the Pinellas County Film Commissioner for more than eight years 

    • Armer was the Dallas Film Commissioner for less than two years when he was offered the position with Talon Entertainment 

    • Armer wrote a feature film called “Terminal Kill,” which he plans to shoot in the Tampa Bay area next year

    • Earlier this week, Armer was shooting the short proof of concept for the film in Tampa and Clearwater


    “The opportunity to be a film commissioner was amazing. I absolutely love the job and I do miss it,” he said. “Now, I get to be back to my true passion, which is making movies.”

    Armer and his production crew were filming action scenes at Coachman Park in Clearwater on Tuesday for a short proof of concept for a feature film he wrote called “Terminal Kill.”

    “We’re calling this short film ‘The Choice,’” he said. “The mom has to make a choice to do something bad in order for something good to happen to take care of her son.”

    Clearwater Police officers were on hand for the scene because it involved a shootout with blanks. Armer said the feature film is about a terminally ill single mom who’s recruited by this mysterious former government agent to assassinate the head of a human trafficking ring.

    “So this is based off a comic book series, graphic novel that I created called ‘Terminal Kill,’ just released at the end of last year,” he said. ”It was a screenplay before that that we were going to shoot in 2020. Then COVID happened.”

    Armer said the plan is to shoot the full length feature film next year in the Tampa Bay area. He just bought a house in Clearwater and said Talon Entertainment CEO Steve Demmler is based out of Tampa.

    “It’s exciting to make projects at home,” he said. “While we also make projects in other parts of the country and around the world as well.”

    He was the Dallas Film Commissioner for less than two years when he was offered the position with Talon Entertainment, which has produced some big box office movies.

    “Talon is a producer on ‘Oh, Canada’ starring Richard Gere and Uma Thurman that premiered at the Cannes Film Fest last year,” he said. “’Bookworm,’ starring Elijah Wood, ‘Rabbit Trap,’ starring Dev Patel, which premiered at Sundance this year.”

    Armer said they shot some dialougue scenes in Tampa on Monday for the short film. He plans to send it to festivals and said eventually the short will be on YouTube.

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  • Don CeSar welcomes overnight guests 6 months after hurricanes

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The Don CeSar hotel in St. Pete Beach welcomed overnight guests back a few days before their scheduled 6 month re-opening of April 1, according to General Manager Barbara Readey.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Don CeSar welcomed overnight guests back on March 28

    • Hurricane Helene sent a 2-to-3 foot storm surge inside the building on Sept. 26, 2024 

    • The reopening of the iconic Pink Palace will boost bed tax collections, which have been down in St. Pete Beach

    • The general manager said 34 of 277 rooms are still out of service but expected to come back in a couple of months


    “We just opened our doors on Friday and people are really wanting to come back,” she said. “They missed us, and the community has really embraced our reopening.”

    Readey said the iconic Pink Palace had been closed for renovations after Hurricane Helene sent a 2-to-3 foot storm surge inside the building on Sept. 26.

    “Our pools were entirely filled with sand. It was incredibly surreal,” she said. “Now we’re more resilient. Our electrical and mechanical are now raised. So the next storm won’t take us down.”

    The Pinellas County Tourist Development Council has been anxious to see The Don CeSar reopen, with its 277 rooms, as data have shown a significant decline in bed tax collections in St. Pete Beach since the storms.

    The December data, released at a TDC meeting in February, showed a 50% decline in Tourist Development Tax collections compared to the same month the previous year.

    “A significant decline still remains in St. Pete Beach. In those more southern beach communities,” said Eddie Kirsch, VSPC Dir. Digital and Data. “One positive note that I do want to point out here is that we’ve been seeing the demand really return at a faster click than the available supply.”


    January data showed a 38.4% decline in TDT collections.

    “We’re still seeing some deflation in our southern beach areas,” said Kirsch. “St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Madeira Beach.”

    At least four more hotels in St. Pete Beach, with a combined 627 rooms, are scheduled to reopen before the end of the year, according to Kirsch.

    “We’re paying close attention to the hotels and the projects that are reopening,” he said. “To make sure that as those start to reopen, we’re focused on driving demand.”

    The Don CeSar already got a jump by hosting a wedding this past weekend when the hotel opened early, according to Readey.

    “Our very first night on March 28, we did 153 rooms. It was at a very high average rate,” she said. “It’s worth every penny because you’re going to love it here.”

    The GM said 34 rooms where electrical lines had to be moved are still out of service but expected to come back in the next couple of months, along with the shops on the ground floor.

    “In mid-May our ground floor partially will open,” she said. “Including four retail stores and Uncle Andy’s Ice Cream and Coffee Shop.”

    Readey said nearly all the hotel staff has returned too.

    “We have the most loyal team members. We had 100 percent of many departments return after 6 months of being closed,” she said. “It’s amazing. I mean, Mother Nature was strong, but our steadfastness was even stronger.”  

    Following hurricane recovery and extensive renovations in 2017, Readey said the Pink Palace has never looked so good in its long storied history.

    “We’re 97 years young, and this is the best we’ve ever looked,” she said. “We are better than ever in product and, most importantly, service.”


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  • Howard Frankland Bridge original span will be demolished

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The original span of the Howard Frankland Bridge, which opened in 1960, will be demolished later this year or early next year after the new $865 million span opened on Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

    What You Need To Know

    • The original span cost $16 million and opened in 1960

    • A lack of safety features earned it the nickname “Howard Frankenstein Bridge” 

    • Traffic from the old bridge will be moved to a newer span in the summer 

    • The original span will be demolished late this year or early next year


    The original span only cost $16 million and was riddled with problems when it first opened leading to the nickname the “Howard Frankenstein Bridge,” according to historian Rodney Kite-Powell, Tampa Bay History Center.

    “Very dangerous bridge, a lot of accidents, a lot of fatalities and then it had a lot of just gridlock,” he said. “A lot of traffic that just kind of went to a standstill, particularly when even the most minor accident.”

    The bridge was named after the man who proposed building it, Tampa businessesman Howard Frankland. Kite-Powell said Frankland’s descendants should be proud of what has become of the bridge.

    “It’d be interesting to talk to the Frankland family with so many safety improvements and with this new span,” he said. “I hope that they can be proud that this bridge is named for Howard Frankland again.” 

    Safety improvements were added to the original bridge in 1962. Kite Powell said the original span was an important connection for the middle of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Feather Sound and the Westshore area sprang up on both sides.

    “This middle span was really critical,” he said. “It really fostered a whole lot of growth, bringing a lot more cars, a lot more people, and then a lot more business.” 

    In the 1990s, the old bridge was closed for a widening project due to increasing traffic. The historian said the area’s forefathers knew cars were going to be a popular mode of transportation.

    “So the automobile, as they predicted, was going to be king, and it absolutely is,” he said. “But I don’t think they could have ever anticipated the volume that we see today.” 

    The original span has lasted 65 years. The new span is expected to last the next 100 years. Traffic on the old bridge will be moved to another span this summer.

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  • St. Petersburg breaks bed tax collection records

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Visit St. Pete-Clearwater released data on Wednesday which shows St. Petersburg has continued to break a record of collecting $1 million in Tourist Development Tax for the month of January.

    What You Need To Know

    • For 3 months in a row, St. Pete has surpassed $1M in TDT (tourist development tax) collections  

    • The first time St. Pete broke the record was last November 

    • VSPC data released this week shows there’s still deflation in Pinellas County’s southern beach areas

    • Clearwater Beach still has the most TDT collections at double the amount of St. Petersburg 


    “We’ve been sold out every single day,” said Tim Calandrino, Hollander Hotel Associate G.M. “The occupancy levels have just been through the roof.”

    Calandrino said the Hollander Hotel has been sold out since last November. In November, for the first time ever, St. Petersburg surpassed $1 million in TDT collections, according to VSPC Dir. of Digital and Data Eddie Kirsch.

    “That was a huge mark,” he said. “Overall across Pinellas County within those inland properties, we did see growth.”

    Kirsch said St. Petersburg saw a 40 percent growth in overnight stays in December. It’s a trajectory which began after last year’s back-to-back hurricanes devastated the area. In the past, the beaches have always collected more TDT than inland but the model flipped in late 2024, according to Kirsch.

    “Reported inland revenue grew by more than $15 million and that beach revenue did fall by about $2.4 million,” he said. “Overall, it’s kind of a tale of two different places within the county.”

    VSPC data released on Wednesday shows there’s still deflation in Pinellas County’s southern beach areas. From Madeira Beach south to St. Pete Beach collections were down 34 percent in January, compared to the same time last year. Calandrino said he’s glad St. Petersburg was able to boost those bed tax collection numbers.

    “The beaches are down and people still want to be here,” he said. “I think that’s really drawing a lot more to the downtown area.”

    Calandrino also believes the events hosted in St. Petersburg, along with the city’s growth, has contributed to a record breaking season.

    “Downtown St. Pete has something that that other cities don’t have,” he said. “The more people that you attract to an area, the better the area’s going to do.”

    Visit St. Pete-Clearwater CEO and Pres. Brian Lowack said St. Petersburg “continues to grow and evolve to become a true destination that visitors seek out.”

    Some new hotels have also opened up in the past couple of years boosting the number of rooms available in St. Pete with more on the way.

    A lot of hotels have been closed in St. Pete Beach for hurricane damage related repairs. The Don Cesar will fully reopen on April 1, which will help the area collect more TDT. At least four hotels in St. Pete Beach won’t reopen until this summer or later, according to VSPC.

    Clearwater Beach with its newer construction is still king. The hotels and vacation rentals in Clearwater Beach have been collecting about double the amount of TDT than St. Petersburg.

    TDT funds are used to help promote the area, pay for beach renourishment and fund local capital projects like the Dali Museum expansion.

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  • Tampa attorney says group will likely pay more for Rays

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A group of investors who want to buy the Tampa Bay Rays would likely be willing to pay more than current value to obtain the team, according to Tampa attorney Carter McCain.

    “I don’t think it’s out of the realm that someone will overpay for what the value is on paper,” he said. “I think this franchise has a lot of value in the Tampa Bay region.”

    Forbes estimates the Tampa Bay Rays are worth $1.25 billion. McCain said he represents a group of mostly out-of-state investors who have been searching for a professional sports team to purchase for more than one year.

    “Our group has been looking at professional sports franchises through the last 18 to 20 months,” he said. “We still are in discussions with some other organizations in additional sports, not just baseball.”

    McCain’s group and another group led by Joe Molloy publicly signaled their interest in buying the Rays days before owner Stu Sternberg stated he was canceling his new $1.3 billion stadium deal, which was nearly half funded by the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.

    “We’re not surprised that agreement was terminated,” said McCain. “I don’t know if it was the right agreement anyway.”

    Since that time, two more groups have reportedly emerged. One is led by Dex Imaging CEO Dan Doyle Jr. and the Orlando Dreamers. Despite four groups vying for the team, Rays President Matt Silverman said on WDAE-AM radio last week that it was “not for sale.”

    “Well, there’s sure a lot of people talking,” said McCain. “The people we have talked with said they will listen and but it’s their asset. They own it. They have the right to say it’s not for sale.”

    “It may not be for sale. We know that we’re going to pay a lot of money, maybe more than the current team is worth on paper.”

    McCain said if his group were able to purchase the team they would keep it in Pinellas or Hillsborough County and envision an entertainment complex surrounding the ballpark that would draw patrons all year. The attorney said the group has most of its funding in place and want to be primarily privately financed.

    “We’ve got our part to the of the puzzle pretty well put together and financially committed,” he said. “We have not had any formal discussions with Mr. Sternberg or his current group. We’ve had discussions with people in baseball that have had those discussions. But we’re letting the dust settle.”

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  • Bradenton Area River Regatta celebrates 10th anniversary

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — The Bradenton Area River Regatta has grown over the past 10 years into the largest spectator event in Manatee County, drawing 100,000 visitors to the powerboat race, according to organizers.

    What You Need To Know

    • The two-day Bradenton Area River Regatta kicks off Friday night with live music and a drone-fireworks show

    • Trial times for the powerboat race begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with the powerboat championship powerboat race taking place at 4 p.m.

    • LINK: View the full event schedule


    “That’s the largest one that they have across the country of this type of speedboat,” said Palmetto Mayor Daniel West. “So that’s an awesome thing for us to have here in our local community.”

    The two-day event kicks off on Friday night with live music at Bradenton Riverwalk’s Rossi Park, followed by a drone and fireworks show at 7:15 p.m.

    On Saturday, the Powerboat Super League F-2 speed race begins with time trials at 10 a.m., followed by the championship races at 4 p.m. The full event schedule can be viewed here.

    “This is going to be our first race of this season,” said powerboat racer Aiden Benton. “We broke this boat out of 3 feet of snow down to get here.”

    Benton said he drives down from Canada to participate in the annual race, which offers spectators multiple views.

    “The thing is in boat racing, a lot of the time you can only see the race from one shoreline,” he said. “Whereas here, you’re going to look at it from the Green Bridge. You can look down on it and everyone can see the all of the action.”

    Greg Campbell, director of operations and executive chef at Pier 22, said it has been fun watching the event grow and expects to be over capacity on Saturday.

    “Typically we get a big influx,” he said. “It’s just been wonderful to be a part of it over the 10 years. Watching here from day one to today, watching it grow, watching Bradenton grow along with it.”  

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  • Swigwam Beach Bar reopens in St. Pete Beach

    Swigwam Beach Bar reopens in St. Pete Beach

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The Swigwam Beach Bar on Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach officially reopened on Wednesday after being closed for more than a month due to damage from Hurricane Helene

    What You Need To Know

    • Rob Williams said, like most business owners, he does not have flood insurance and spent $29,000 to reopen about one month after Helene’s storm surge sent 18 inches of seawater inside the Swigwam

    • Williams survived what he called the worst October ever, but despite the setback he considers himself one of the lucky business owners.

    •  The Swigwam reopened on Wednesday


    “I think for the area, it’s going to take at least one year to recover completely,” said owner Rob Williams. “I’m happy we’re open because with so many people affected, especially the people that come in here all the time, they need a little relaxation.”

    Williams said, like most business owners, he does not have flood insurance and spent $29,000 to reopen about one month after Helene’s storm surge sent 18 inches of seawater inside the Swigwam. During the time it was closed, Williams said he tried to supplement the income of his seven employees as best he could.

    “They went from making money to making no money,” he said. “I kind of couldn’t do much, but I gave them a little bit each week to get them by.” 

    Robin Miller, the President and CEO of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber, said it’s hard to get exact numbers but estimates about 40 percent of the businesses in St. Pete Beach have reopened — but most at limited capacity. The chamber has been doing a ribbon cutting at each business when it reopens.

    Williams said all four eating and drinking establishment on Corey Avenue have reopened but many of the other businesses remain closed. The bar owner is thankful to the City of St. Pete Beach for helping to clear debris from the avenue to make way for the Sunday morning market.

    “That was a big impetus for them to really clean the street because the Sunday market brings so many people here, local and tourists,” he said. “So having that really makes it feel like we’re almost normal again, but it’ll still be a while.”

    Williams said his home in the Gulfport area wasn’t damaged during Helene but two weeks later Hurricane Milton blew his front doors wide open and rain ruined his floors. He calls it minor damage compared to his siblings.

    “My sister, she lost all the contents plus two cars,” he said. “My brother. Same deal.”

    Williams survived what he called the worst October ever, but despite the setback, he considers himself one of the lucky business owners.

    “A lot of people lost their business and their house and their vehicle and any source of income,” he said. “So I do feel blessed that we’re open for business again and we’ll make it.” 

    Williams has a nearly 40 year history with the Swigwam. He was an employee at the former location for 23 years and has owned the Corey Avenue business for almost 15 years.

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  • Pinellas nonprofit Crisis Connect offers mental health help for storm victims

    Pinellas nonprofit Crisis Connect offers mental health help for storm victims

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    SEMINOLE, Fla. — The founder of a recently created Pinellas County nonprofit called Crisis Connect says he wants to help storm victims who have fallen through the cracks with mental health and financial resources.

    What You Need To Know

    • The founder of Pinellas County nonprofit Crisis Connect says he wants to help storm victims who have fallen through the cracks

    • Dr. Terry Collier, who has 35 years of experience as a trauma counselor, decided to create the organization because he saw a need in the community

    • Karissa Jackson, 46, who says her husband died shortly before Hurricane Helene destroyed all of her belongings, has been getting help from Crisis Connect

    • Check the Crisis Connect Facebook page for the latest information about the Beach Aid event planned for Thanksgiving weekend


    “What we’re doing right now is trying to throw that lifeline out, saying, ‘Don’t give up,’” said founder Dr. Terry Collier. “It’s going to take time, and it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to make this thing happen together as a community.”

    Karissa Jackson, 46, moved into a rental home in Seminole with her two teenage children six days before Hurricane Helene’s record-breaking storm surge hit. Jackson, who did not have flood insurance, said her family lost 95% of their possessions — including two cars — when Helene sent 39 inches of seawater into the home.

    “It was very frightening. My anxiety, it was off the charts. My daughter, she was hysterical,” she said. “We really thought that we were going to drown and die.”

    To make matters much worse, Jackson’s husband, Bobby Schauer, 46, had unexpectedly died from a heart attack about one month before Helene. Jackson said she was not experiencing back-to-back disasters in less than six weeks — something that took a serious toll on her mental health.

    “So losing him and then having to move here and then losing everything,” she said. “I was driving home the other day, and it brought me to tears because we were together for 17 years.”

    Jackson said she was put in touch with Collier, 69, who gave her both financial and mental health help. She encourages others to reach out to Crisis Connect.

    “To have somebody there to help guide you, to say things that can help you, it definitely helps a lot,” she said. “I just I can’t thank him enough for wanting to help me.” 

    Collier, who has 35 years of experience as a trauma counselor, said many storm victims will need mental health resources as they navigate the rebuilding process.

    “Crisis is no respecter of persons — the elderly, the young children, marriages, disabilities, businesses,” he said. “Pretty soon, realization is going to step in. And that’s when frustration, that’s when making bad choices and judgment — people are signing contracts, depression, and the ultimate is, ‘I can’t take anymore.’”

    Collier has teamed up with developer Bill Karns’ ROC Park foundation and Madeira Beach city leaders to host a Thanksgiving weekend event where free meals and mental health counselors will be provided. It’s also a fundraiser for the nonprofit and will take place at ROC Park in Madeira Beach.

    “Beach Aid, we’re putting together in Madeira Beach. We’re trying to serve between 2,000 and 3,000 Thanksgiving dinners,” said Karns. “We want to have all of our affiliates there, Crisis Connect, to help with the grief counseling. That’s a big thing right now.”

    Karns, 66, has also set up the Mad Beach Donation Center, located at 15042 Madeira Way, where storm victims can find free supplies, which include food, cleaning supplies, clothing, bedding and furniture.

    “We took it on the chin, but we’re strong and we’ll come back,” he said. “I’m at that age now where it’s all about helping other people. I’m good, but I want to make sure our community’s good.”

    Collier said the resources they provide are for people who don’t have flood insurance and have been falling through the cracks. Thanksgiving plans for Beach Aid are still being finalized with the latest information available at the Crisis Connect Facebook page.

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  • PSTA drivers transport thousands during back-to-back hurricanes

    PSTA drivers transport thousands during back-to-back hurricanes

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus drivers shared firsthand accounts of their lifesaving transportation efforts during Hurricanes Helene and Milton as the agency resumed normal service on Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    • PSTA drivers had 569,853 riders during the pre-storm and post-storm response

    • Pinellas County Emergency Management requested 1,229 targeted evacuation rides 

    • One bus driver lost his possessions when his condo flooded, along with two cars, during Helene  

    • The PSTA fueled up 20 of their oldest buses, which were ready for an immediate response after the storms


    “I’d be driving and having to grit my teeth to keep from crying as I watched,” said Connie Stein, a trolley driver. “I could never have imagined what I was to see on that first day driving that rescue trolley after Helene.” 

    PSTA drivers had 569,853 riders during the pre-storm and post-storm response for the back-to-back hurricanes, which includes 1,229 targeted evacuation rides requested by Pinellas County Emergency Management, according to the agency. Stein estimates she evacuated hundreds of those riders from the beaches who were hit hard by Helene.

    “Their cars were under water and under sand. They basically had nothing but the clothes on their back,” she said. “In some cases, million dollar homes and they lost everything. Some of them looked homeless. They just needed help. They needed to get out of there.” 

    Some drivers are storm victims themselves. Bus driver Leon Smiley said he could not help out during Hurricane Helene because his condo flooded and he lost two cars, but worked around the clock to transport evacuees when Hurricane Milton struck.

    “I got the chance to take my mind off my personal loss and it made me see that there was always somebody in worse shape than you are,” he said. “It made me stop feeling sorry for myself.”

    The largest single relocation operation happened at the Good Samaritan Church in Pinellas Park when Helene knocked out the power and air conditioning. Approximately 300 people had taken refuge in the church with more than 230 who had mobility issues.

    They were transported to a permanent shelter building on higher ground, according to PSTA.

    Dispatcher Chris Blackshear said he volunteered to drive a van to transport people with disabilities after his normal shift ended and it was hard to see all the suffering.

    “I got a heart for people and the stories, it just weighed in on me,” he said. “I felt like I was helping the community and I felt better at the end.” 

    The PSTA said they fueled up 20 of their oldest buses which were ready for an immediate response after the storms to transport people to shelters and for lifesaving kidney dialysis treatments. They moved the fleet of newer buses to higher ground.

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  • Flood policy exclusion surprises many multistory homeowners

    Flood policy exclusion surprises many multistory homeowners

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Many multistory homeowners whose lower level was flooded by Hurricane Helene have been caught off guard when they learn most of their damage is not covered in a standard flood policy, according to the Office of the Insurance Consumer Advocate.

    What You Need To Know

    • A standard flood policy doesn’t cover much damage on the lower level of a multistory home

    • Many multistory homeowners whose lower level was flooded by Hurricane Helene have been surprised by the exclusion  

    • Office of the Insurance Consumer Advocate recommends reviewing your policy to understand what’s included and excluded

    • Homeowners who have damage which is not covered should contact FEMA and consider applying for an SBA loan


    “That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you are reviewing your policy and you understand what’s included and what’s excluded,” said Tasha Carter, Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate. “So that you are fully informed and protected as much as you possibly can be.” 

    St. Pete Beach resident Phil Smithies said Helene surged more than three feet of seawater into his garage, damaging drywall, five doors, a staircase and a freezer. Smithies said he has paid his Wright Flood policy for 35 years and recently learned not much was covered when he filed his first claim.

    “There’s virtually nothing except for the ‘mucking out’ that they call it, which is like sanitizing and a freezer. That’s it,” he said. “It’s all out of pocket, which I’m on Social Security these days.”

    Smithies said he’s fighting to get his staircase covered and admits he did not read the fine print on his policy.

    “My declaration page is what I went by and I thought I was covered… I may be dumb, but these guys (neighbors) are all the same,” he said. “I’ve spoken to dozens of people in the last three weeks, and nobody has heard about this multistory-single story thing.”

    That includes Al Johnson, the former mayor of St. Pete Beach, who has read many legal documents during his six years in office. Johnson said he had 29 inches of seawater inside his garage and also learned much of the damage will not be covered.

    “I’ve been told that they won’t cover any drywall and the only thing they say they’ll cover is the what they call ‘mucking out’ of the garage,” he said. “I think they should cover, at least enclosing your access to your home, which I always thought they did.”

    Johnson said because his living quarters are on the second floor, he does pay a lower rate than single story homeowners. Still, in his community, he said there’s 55 townhomes with garages and all the owners were surprised by the flood policy exclusion.

    “It’s the old fine print routine. I think there ought to be some sort of a better disclosure because you ought to be able to cover the stuff you’d normally have in your garage,” he said. “Give me bullets here. This is covered, this is covered, this is not and maybe throw some options together as to what you can add to it if you need to.”

    Carter said oftentimes homeowners don’t know what’s covered under their insurance policy and what’s excluded until they file a claim. Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate recommends homeowners should contact FEMA who have damage which is not covered and consider a low interest loan from the Small Businesses Administration.

    “For homeowners who have insurance and your insurance is not going to cover the extent of your damage, you may have an option to contact FEMA to request additional financial assistance through disasterassistance.gov,” she said. “If you are not eligible to obtain assistance directly through FEMA, you may be eligible to obtain financial assistance through the Small Business Administration.”

    The SBA loan program offers a 30-year term interest rate for as low as 4 percent for small businesses and as low as 2.8 percent for homeowners and renters. Last week, the Biden-Harris administration added a new incentive for Helene and Milton storm victims, which includes up to 12 months of zero interest and no payments.

    Smithies said he’s reviewing all of his options, but if he’s forced to take out a loan, it will be tough to pay back on a fixed income.

    “It’s extremely worrying at my age,” he said. “Payments now not good.”

    Smithies predicts the exclusion in the flood policy will force some seniors out of their homes and said he knows of one lady who’s leaving.

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  • Vacation rentals boost Pinellas County bed tax collection

    Vacation rentals boost Pinellas County bed tax collection

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Amongst the four areas with the most tourist development tax collections in Pinellas County, vacation rentals brought in the highest amount of money in June, according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

    What You Need To Know

    • Officials say vacation rentals brought in 38% of the June bed tax

    • June had second highest bed tax collection ever at $8.5 million

    • NextHome Beach Time Realty manages 130 vacation rentals in Pinellas County 

    • The company’s owner said its rentals have created about $440,000 in bed tax


    “Where we’re kind of seeing this rise is, obviously, in this vacation rental miscellaneous segment that we get from TDT collections,” said Eddie Kirsch, VSPC data and digital director. “We can see the number of listings continuing to increase for Airbnb.”

    Kirsch released the data at the tourist development council meeting last month and said the total tourist development tax collection nearly broke a record.

    “For the month of June, this was the second time ever that we surpassed $8.5 million in TDT collections,” he said. “Our best year ever was 2022. This was our second-best year ever.” 

    Kirsch said the four areas with the most tourist development tax collections have been from hotels in Clearwater-Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach-Tierra Verde, St. Petersburg and vacation rentals.

    In June, he said vacation rentals brought in 38% of the tax, with the second highest collection coming from Clearwater-Clearwater Beach at 26%.

    The vacation rental market surpassed the hotels in those four areas for bed tax collections in 2020, and the segment has continuously grown for the past decade, according to Kirsch.

    “We can really see how it’s sort of changed things. In 2013, it made up about 16% of our total TDT collections,” he said. “By 2024, that has grown to about 38% of our TDT collections.” 

    Annie Fleeting owns NextHome Beach Time Realty, which manages 130 vacation rental units, including the Sunrise Resort in St. Pete Beach. She said her company has collected about $440,000 in bed tax, which is a 10% increase from last year.

    “We get about a third of our business from Airbnb and about a third of our business from VRBO, and then a third are repeat customers,” she said. “It’s nice to know that we’re making such a significant contribution to the betterment of the county and all the things that we’re able to do.”

    Pinellas County uses the tourist development tax, which was a record-breaking $98 million in 2023, to pay for big-ticket items that draw tourists. For example, beach renourishment and helping to pay for a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays. 

    Fleeting said short-term rentals have changed the way people vacation, and the future looks bright for everyone.

    “There’s always going to be a place for vacation rental properties that are well-maintained and allow a family to vacation a little bit more comfortably and more space a bit more affordably,” she said. “We’re providing lots of people with wonderful vacations and memories that they’ll never forget.”

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  • Public works trying to solve tidal flood mystery in Shore Acres

    Public works trying to solve tidal flood mystery in Shore Acres

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Residents in Shore Acres said tidal street flooding has been happening every day, for the past two weeks, in areas where it normally doesn’t occur as frequently, and they wonder if the problem is connected to newly installed backflow preventers.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tidal flooding happened 13 days in a row, according to residents. Installation of new backflow preventers began in April

    • Public works said tidal flood problem appears to be in areas where the valves have not yet been installed

    • Public works said they’ve been investigating the problem every day this week


    “We are aware of it and are investigating,” said Claude Tankersley, St. Petersburg Public Works Director. “We are not 100 percent certain yet what is happening.”

    Resident Bandar Elheresh, 28, has lived in Shore Acres for nearly four years. Elheresh said tidal flood water pooling at the intersection by his home at Connecticut Ave. N.E. and Huntington St. N.E. has become much more severe and frequent. It reached 13 days in a row on Thursday, according to Elheresh.

    “It has gotten worse that we see it multiple times a day,” he said. “I remember last year and the year before. I will see that once a week, twice a week sometimes… but not every day.”

    In April, public works began installing the first batch of new backflow preventers for the lowest lying neighborhood in the city to try and prevent sunny day or tidal flooding. The devices hold the seawater back from bubbling up storm drains and onto the streets during a high tide.

    The city council approved the $3.75 million project in February. Tankersley said so far, they’ve installed 39-of-56 new backflow preventers, which appear to be functioning properly.

    “When we drain a stormwater vault and test a backflow preventer, they are found to be watertight and working,” he said. “We believe much of the recent flooding is happening where the valves have not yet been installed.”

    Tankersley said they’ve noticed once the water enters the street at an unprotected outfall it runs downhill and pools where a backflow preventer already exists, which gives the impression the valve may not be working.

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  • Pass-a-Grille beach renourishment project has moved north

    Pass-a-Grille beach renourishment project has moved north

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The Pass-a-Grille beach renourishment project, which started in June at the southernmost tip, progressed to the Paradise Grill area earlier this month.

    A local business owner said she will be happy once it’s complete.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Pass-a-Grille beach renourishment project moved north to the Paradise Grille area in early September

    • A boutique hotel and restaurant owner said the project has negatively impacted her business 

    • The owner said potential visitors believe the entire beach is closed despite good communication from Pinellas County  

    • The $5.8 million project is expected to be complete in November


    “It’s been a journey,” said Maryann Farenc, Berkeley Beach Club owner. “It’s that perception thing.”

    Farenc said despite good communication from Pinellas County and a website showing the exact closure areas, some potential visitors still believe the entire beach is closed and it has negatively impacted her business.

    “The perception is, ‘Oh my gosh, why would I go out to Pass-a-Grille because everything’s shut down?’ “she said. “No, there’s always plenty of room on the beach and there are lots of other things to do.” 

    The boutique hotel and restaurant owner said she knows the beach needs to be renourished and has been actually grateful for the timing.

    “It’s that push-pull because you know it needs to happen and you want it to happen. So, you’ve got to go through it,” she said. “We’re grateful that they really picked this time because this is a slower time of year anyway. So you’re not doing it in March or something like that.”

    The beach renourishment project has entered into phase 2. The crew moved their equipment to the Paradise Grille area and north to 15th Avenue. The final phase will stretch from 16th Avenue to 22nd Avenue and is expected to be complete in November. The Paradise Grille will remain open the entire time.

    “The results… are pretty incredible,” said Farenc. “They have tripled the size of the beach.”

    Pinellas County Public Works Director Levy said Tropical Storm Debby, which brushed through the area last month, did not cause much damage to the newly renourished southernmost section of the beach. In fact, she said some areas gained a little sand. 

    The $5.8 million project has been funded with tourist development tax dollars and a state grant. Farenc said she’s hopeful in the end the project will bring in more visitors excited to enjoy the big beautiful beach.

     “It’s going to be sandy and sun filled and fabulous,” she said. “You’re going to be able to get out there and get lost.”

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  • Clearwater Marine Aquarium wants bed tax grant for expansion

    Clearwater Marine Aquarium wants bed tax grant for expansion

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Clearwater Marine Aquarium has a $32 million multi-year expansion plan that will add new habitats for animals, which it hopes to partially fund with a tourist development tax grant.

    What You Need To Know

    • Clearwater Marine Aquarium has a $32 million multi-year expansion plan

    • Clearwater Marine Aquarium has applied for $9.8 million in bed tax money to help pay for the expansion

    • The aquarium wants to add new habitats for sea lions, sharks, albino alligators and penguins 

    • The Tourist Development Council is expected to make their recommendations to Pinellas County commissioners this fall


    “Renovating this facility is going to be huge for us,” said Joe Handy, chief executive officer at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. “If we can entice people from across the world to come visit Clearwater, it has an echoing impact.”

    Clearwater Marine Aquarium has requested $9.8 million in tourist development tax dollars from Pinellas County to help pay for the renovations. In order to qualify for the capital funding grant, the aquarium must prove the new renovations will draw more visitors who spend the night. Handy believes Clearwater Marine Aquarium could more than double its current attendance.

    “That number could be in excess of a 100% increase of our current attendance,” he said. “So right now, our attendance hovers at about just under 400,000 visitors per year.” 

    Handy wants to renovate the original area of the aquarium which used to be a wastewater treatment facility until it was donated to CMA in 1978. A black curtain hangs around the empty giant rust stained pools, which used to house Winter the dolphin, the aquarium’s most famous marine resident who died in 2021.

    “The way the pools were originally structured was to accommodate the treatment facility,” said Handy. ‘What we’re looking to do over the next few years is really enhance this facility to be able to accommodate different species of animals.”

    Handy wants to build new exhibits for sea lions from California, albino alligators, sharks, penguins and enhance the animal hospital. The CEO said the newly opened $7 million manatee habitat is part of the multi-year expansion plan.

    “Just opened up last month,” he said. “We’re excited to invite our guests to see the animals we have here.” 

    Handy wants the old part of the facility to match the much newer $80 million Visitor Center and the Ruth and J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex that was completed in 2020. It was the “Dolphin Tale” movies that made Winter famous and drawing visitors for many years that helped to pay for the expansion.

    “We saw the success of Winter being here, it pulled people from across the world that want to come here and it put Clearwater on the map. I mean, our beaches take care of itself,” he said. “But this little aquarium that has emerged and has grown over the last few years was a part of that story.”

    To pay for the new expansion, Clearwater Marine Aquarium hopes to raise funds over the next six years through the “Rising Tides: Safeguarding Marine Life for the Future” campaign. Handy calls Clearwater Marine Aquarium the heartbeat of a top tourist destination and said he wants to create the best environment possible.

    “This is a jewel of the city of Clearwater,” he said. “We want to make sure that we are enticing folks to come visit and see … the newness and actually enhancing our ability to care for the animals we have.”

    It’s the first time in six years, the Tourist Development Council has offered one-to-one matching grants for approved capital funding request projects and it received eight applications. The council is expected to make its recommendations to Pinellas County commissioners this fall, who must approve any project which costs $10 million or more.

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  • Transformation Network boosts low performing Hillsborough schools

    Transformation Network boosts low performing Hillsborough schools

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    TAMPA, Fla. — DeSoto Elementary School in Tampa will be starting off the academic year with an A grade for the first time in more than a decade after participating in the Transformation Network, according to Assistant Principal Lindsay Allen.

    What You Need To Know

    • DeSoto Elementary went from a D rated school to an A for the first time in more than a decade 

    • DeSoto Elementary School has been enrolled in the Transformation Network for the past few years 

    • Transformation Network launched in 2020 to boost low-performing schools

    • In 2020, there were 50 low-performing schools in Hillsborough County, and currently, there are eight


    “It was a team effort to allow us to stay laser focused on students’ needs,” she said. “Not just academic needs but also social and emotional learning.”

    The Hillsborough Public School District launched the Transformation Network in 2020 as part of a comprehensive turnaround initiative to boost low-performing schools. At the time, there were 50 schools with D or F grades, according to Deputy Superintendent Shaylia McRae.

    “Over the last four years, we’ve been working with our D and F schools and some of our fragile schools,” she said. “We’ve been able to see some dramatic improvements in our schools.”

    Last December, Hillsborough County had the lowest performing schools in the state, according to data released by the Florida Department of Education. McRae said the district has since shed that dubious distinction due in large part to the program.

    “We are no longer the district that has the most D and F schools,” she said. “We are focused on getting our schools to a C or better but really to that A and B mark.”

    McRae said the district currently only has eight low-performing schools with six enrolled in the program. Allen said the key to the program has been the one-on-one mentors along with the wrap around services.

    “That extra attention, that extra spending time with them, really allowed students to show their potential,” she said. “They knew that they were cared about.”

    McRae said the wrap around services focus on the whole student.

    “We provided food services, clothing services … extra wrap around support is what they needed to kind of bump them from what was a D school to now an A school four years later,” she said. “I think the key to this is really identifying individualized support for kids.”

    Part of the mission statement for the Transformation Network is to focus on innovative approaches that create equitable access to high quality instructional practices, empower family involvement and community partnerships for the most vulnerable schools in Hillsborough County, according the HCPS.

    Allen said DeSoto Elementary students are no longer eligible for the program and she’s confident they’ll still maintain their A status.

    “We are out of transformation and we are proud, but it is bittersweet because we do love our transformation family,” she said. We’re excited that we’re in our new region. We have different supports and we have amazing resources moving forward to maintain our A.”

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  • Sand erosion occurred at several Tampa Bay beaches due to Hurricane Debby

    Sand erosion occurred at several Tampa Bay beaches due to Hurricane Debby

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Debby severely eroded the shoreline at Ben T. Davis Park in Tampa, according to the University of South Florida Geology Professor Ping Wang, with high tide currently reaching way too close to the Courtney Campbell Causeway. 

    “We are really close to the freeway,” he said. “Something has to be done here.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Debby severely eroded the shoreline at Ben T. Davis Park in Tampa  

    • High tide currently comes within 40 feet of the Courtney Campbell Causeway 

    • Sand dunes in a few Pinellas County beaches were also eroded by Debby 

    • Public works said it appears not too much sand has eroded from the $5.8M beach renourishment project in Pass-a-Grille


    Wang surveyed the Ben T. Davis beach on Wednesday with his students for the city of Tampa and a consulting company. Wang said they want to gather detailed topography data to offer mitigation solutions which include rebuilding up to 60 feet of new beach by installing a sand dune and an artificial reef to dissipate wave action before it reaches the shoreline.

    “We can calculate how much sand we may need,” he said. “There used to be a beach a very long time ago, and it got eroded away. Now it’s completely gone.”

    Wang said because there’s no beach left, there were “some pretty bad impacts” on the shoreline from Debby. Uprooted trees, the edge of a crumbling parking lot and concrete barriers are just some of the visible damage. Debby also completely washed out all the sand beneath a swing, leaving it dangling a few feet up in the air.

    “We’re already in a pretty critical state,” he said. “So now the last punch just made it look much, much worse.”

    The shoreline at the Tampa park has eroded within about 30 to 40 feet of the Courtney Campbell, which should be several hundred feet from the highway, according to Wang.

    “That really puts a lot of pressure on the road,” he said. “This is way too close. So, this section should really be fixed.”

    Wang said a buoy near Egmont Key measured waves 6 to 7 feet high for 2 days straight from Debby with the peak wave reaching nearly 14 feet.

    In Pinellas County, sand dune scarping from Debby occurred at Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach and Sunset Beach, which took the most damage because it’s very narrow, according to public works.

    “This underscores the need for a full nourishment project,” said spokesperson Tony Fabrizio. “We are very vulnerable right now.”

    Phase 2 of the $5.8 million Pass-a-Grille beach renourishment project started a few weeks ago and was paused as Debby rolled through the area on Sunday. Weather permitting, the contractor hopes to resume work this weekend.

    Fabrizio said post storm conditions have prevented public works from getting an accurate assessment but it appears Pass-a-Grille sand loss drifted and filled in the beach north of 10th Avenue and some sand drifted out to sea and may come back.

    “A survey will be conducted to get an accurate assessment of storm impacts,” he said. “It may take several weeks to fully assess.”

    Public Works Director Kelli Hammer Levy said while the Pass-a-Grille renourishment project lost some sand, it appears to be otherwise okay. A survey is expected to be conducted on Thursday or Friday depending on tidal conditions.

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  • Pinellas County mobile home park bridge damaged by Debby

    Pinellas County mobile home park bridge damaged by Debby

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Floodwater from Hurricane Debby washed out a large section of a newly reconstructed bridge on Sunday which connects the Silk Oak Lodge mobile home park in the Clearwater area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Debby washed out nearly half of the bridge 

    • The bridge connects the east and west side of the Silk Oak Lodge community  

    • Residents said the mobile home park clubhouse was flooded 

    • Park management has hired  a state-licensed civil engineer who is assessing the bridge damage 


    “At this point, there is no traffic between the two sides of our park,” said resident Dawn McCowan, 55. “Which has impacted anybody on the other side coming to the pool and now I don’t have access to Belcher.”

    Resident Elaine Diaz shot video of the floodwater in the Curlew Creek culvert flowing over the bridge which looked like a waterfall. Debby washed out nearly half of the bridge, some fencing and underground plumbing.

    McCowan said the bridge had just reopened two weeks ago after it had been damaged by a storm earlier this year. She said it took about six weeks for the last repair but predicts this time it will take longer because there’s more damage.

    “I’m guessing six to eight weeks for sure,” she said. “It’s a lot worse than it was last time.”

    Park management officials said they hired a state-licensed civil engineer who is assessing the damage and will make recommendations for repairs.

    “We will be working with our contractors and state and local authorities to make the needed repairs to the bridge,” stated spokeswoman Jennifer Ludovice. “The timeline for repairs is still to be determined.”

    Ludovice said the Silk Oak Lodge Park has not gotten reports of any mobile homes being flooded.

    Resident Gaby Brown lives near the creek and shot video of floodwater inside her lanai but said her home, which is more elevated, remained dry.

    Brown also shot video of floodwater inside the clubhouse and said “flooded as usual.”

    McCowan said the clubhouse floods during heavy thunderstorms.

    “This time it’s flooded a lot worse,” she said. “When they have to close our clubhouse, then in turn, they close our pool because our bathroom facilities are in our clubhouse.”

    McCowan said the park hosts a food pantry at the clubhouse twice a month which some residents depend on.

    “Without being able to have it open we have no way to host the food pantry,” she said. “People count on that.”  

    Ludovice said while the bridge is closed, residents can access either side of the park by using Belcher Road or U.S. Highway 19 N.

    “With this closure, residents located in the east side of the community can access the amenities in the community by driving around to the other side,” she stated. “We are working diligently to complete the necessary repairs and look forward to reopening the bridge as quickly as possible.”

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  • Pass-a-Grille beach will triple in size after renourishment project

    Pass-a-Grille beach will triple in size after renourishment project

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    ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The Pass-a-Grille Beach renourishment project is scheduled to be complete in November and will triple the size of the current beach, according to Pinellas County Coastal Management Coordinator Dr. John Bishop.

    “It’s nice to see some progress,” he said. “Get some sand placed on the beach again.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Pass-a-Grille Beach is currently undergoing a $5.8 million renourishment project
    • Officials say the project will ultimately triple the size of Pass-a-Grille Beach

    • Phase 2 began in July is expected to wrap up in November 


    About two weeks ago, a contractor began dredging the Pass-a-Grill inlet after getting a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Bishop said it’s much cheaper and environmentally beneficial to pump sand onto the beach from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico versus having it trucked in from Polk County.

    “The truck haul method can be double or more in cost,” he said. “It also keeps our passes clean. So, right now we’re actually pumping it out of the federal channel.”

    Pinellas County paid $30 million to truck sand in for emergency dune restoration after Hurricane Idalia brushed by the coast last August.

    The total cost for the Pass-a-Grille beach renourishment project is $5.8 million, which also includes dredging the Grand Canal during Phase 1 in June. Most of the cost is being paid for with tourist development tax money, and more than $1 million is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act.

    Historically, the federal government has paid for most of the cost to regularly renourish the Pinellas County beaches, but the county has been in a standoff with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since 2015 over required perpetual easements. Around half of the beachfront homeowners won’t sign the easements, which forced the county to do the renourishment alone with bed tax funds.

    “We’ve been fighting to solve our beach renourishment issues for a long time.” Bishop said. “It’s nice to see some progress where we can actually start putting sand ourselves.”

    While other Pinellas beaches have passed their regular 10-year beach renourishment cycle due to the impasse, the federal permit came just in time for Pass-a-Grille. Bishop said it won’t need to be renourished again for another 10 years.

    Up to 10,000 cubic yards of sand was pumped onto Pass-a-Grille Beach from the Grand Canal dredge. The Pass-a-Grille inlet dredge will add an additional 140,000 cubic yards.

    he volume of sand will extend the beach 170 feet from the edge of the sand dunes to the waterline and raise the elevation about 5 feet.

    Construction on the section of beach south of 10th Avenue is expected to be complete by the end of August. Beach access points from First Avenue to Ninth Avenue will be closed, but the rest of the beach remains open. Bishop said visitors should avoid the construction area for their own safety.  

    “I know people like to go shelling and they think all the best shells would be the ones that just put on there, but we don’t want people entering the construction site at all,” he said. “It’s dangerous. They’re actively working and they’re using heavy equipment.”

    In September, the project will move north from 10th Avenue to 22nd Avenue, and is scheduled to be complete in November.

    “This is going to be a 24/7 operation,” said Bishop. “That is to let them finish as quickly as possible.”

    Public works has a website for up-to-date closures and the contractor has been working with their partners to minimize disruptions to sea turtle nests. 

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  • Clearwater wants $10M in Pinellas bed tax to upgrade softball field complex

    Clearwater wants $10M in Pinellas bed tax to upgrade softball field complex

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — The city of Clearwater has applied for $10 million in bed tax money from the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council’s capital funding projects program to renovate the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

    What You Need To Know

    • The city of Clearwater has applied for $10 million in bed tax from the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council 

    • City officials say the money would be used to renovate the Eddie C. Moore Complex 

    • The complex wants to add a new two-story building along with softball field amenities

    • Pinellas County commissioners will vote on the request in October


    “This property is almost 40 years old at this point,” said Carla Scrivener, Clearwater’s parks and recreation senior division manager. “It really needs a little bit more upgrading done to it to be competitive in the environment that we’re in.”

    City officials say the renovations would take place on fields 1 through 4. The plan calls for expanding the bleachers to seat up to four times more spectators, upgrading the softball field lighting to LED, renovating the dugout to a concrete building and improving the view for spectators.

    “Take the fencing down and put up netting,” said Scrivener. “That would be more conducive for filming through.”

    Scrivener said the city also wants to replace the existing concession stand with a two-story building that will have a press box on top.

    “The first floor being storage and expanded restroom facilities for the spectators,” she said. “The bigger component of it would be the second floor, which would have a large open space with four dedicated broadcast spaces.”

    The complex attracts up to 35 tournaments every year, with some games being broadcast nationally on ESPN and the MLB Network. The new building will have plug-and-play technology, which will allow scouts and coaches to easily stream video.

    The city must prove a return on investment in order to qualify for the tourist development tax money. Last year, the complex generated $39.7 million in direct spending by non-local attendees, with a total economic impact of $61.6 million in Pinellas County.

    “I think that the renovations will continue to grow the economic impact that we already currently bring into the community,” said Scrivener. “We have the opportunity to do a few more higher-level events.”

    At the July 17 meeting, TDC board member Phil Henderson expressed support for the project.

    “I know the Eddie C. Moore Complex will probably attract more tournaments and so forth, if it’s more up to date and modernized,” he said. “So, that can be an increase over what would have been.”

    The TDC has seven other capital funding project requests and is expected to make a recommendation in September to county commissioners — who will then vote in October.

    Scrivener said softball has a long history in Clearwater, going back to the Bombers in the 1940s — the complex is named after one of those players. Scrivener said the proposed renovations will ensure softball thrives well into the future.

    “What we’re hoping to be able to continue to do to grow the sport of softball, continue to promote women’s athletics and continue to make Clearwater a spotlight community,” she said. “Not just here in Florida but across the country.”

    If the bed tax money is approved, the city would close a section of the Eddie C. Moore complex in 2026 for construction.

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  • Palladium Theater requests $2.5M in bed tax money for renovations

    Palladium Theater requests $2.5M in bed tax money for renovations

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The nearly 100-year-old building which is home to the Palladium Theater has been in need of costly renovations that include replacing all of the seats along with improving sightlines and acoustics, according to Executive Director Paul Wilborn.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Palladium Theater has requested $2.5 million from the Tourist Development Council for the $12 million project

    • The Tourist Development Council has seven other capital funding project requests and will make a decision in September 

    • The Palladium officials want to replace all the old seats in the main hall along with the ceiling 

    • The Palladium has already raised $4.5 million in private donations and $1.8 million in state grants


    “It’s just a building that we’ve made the most of, but it wasn’t designed for what we’re doing,” he said. “We’re trying to make it more into a theater than a church.”

    Last year, the renovations were expected to cost $10 million but Wilborn said partly due to construction price increases, the cost has since grown to $12 million. The Palladium has already raised $4.5 million in private donations and $1.8 million in state grants, according to Wilborn.

    “We’re getting close to our goal,” he said. “Fortunately, the project keeps getting a little more ambitious and a little more expensive.”

    To reach their goal, officials at the Palladium Theater, which is owned by St. Petersburg College, have asked the Tourist Development Council for $2.5 million in bed tax money from its capital funding projects program. In order to qualify, the theater must show it draws visitors and puts heads in beds.

    “We funded a $50,000 study that showed our economic impact. It showed bed nights,” said Wilborn. “I mean, real numbers not numbers we made up and how many people, over 50% of our audience, comes from outside of Pinellas County.”

    Wilborn appeared before the Tourist Development Council at its July 17 meeting to update board members on the request.

    “This is a piece that’s going to put this project together,” he said. “The plans are already finished with the architects. So, it’s really exciting.”

    Board member Chuck Prather voiced his support for the project.

    “There’s very worthwhile causes in here. We’ll just use the Palladium Theater as an example,” he said. “We said that we’re going to support the arts more and that, in my opinion, is one that’s very much worth considering and discussing.”

    Board member Copley Gerdes, who’s also a St. Petersburg City Council member, said the city has pledged a minimum of $1 million to the Palladium for the design and construction phase. Wilborn said the biggest renovation they want to make is replacing the ceiling to improve the acoustics.

    “Take this ceiling out. It’s a plaster ceiling and above it we’ve got 12 feet of attic and steel beams that are just in incredible shape,” he said. “We’re going to drop in sort of what would look like a ceiling from an opera house and the sound will be able to rise up into that attic.”

    The plan calls for raising the stage by about one foot, removing 50 of the 800 seats in the main hall to improve sightlines and replacing all the remaining chairs.

    “These seats are from 1925 and they’re actually in pretty good shape. Except, people are bigger and people want more comfort,” said Wilborn. “These seats after about an hour start to get pretty hard on certain parts of your body. So, we’re going to go with some new more cushioned seats. A little wider.”

    Wilborn believes the Palladium can raise another $1 million from a seat naming campaign.

    “People will be able to put their name on the back of one of those new seats,” he said. “That’s how we’re going to kind of wrap up the campaign.”

    Wilborn said the Palladium Theater has been the community’s professional and affordable venue.

    “We’re the community’s performing arts center,” he said. “We open our doors to everybody and we’re really a place where the arts organizations and the artists in our community come to perform.”

    The TDC has seven other capital funding project requests and is expected to make their recommendations to county commissioners in September, who will approve the decision in October.

    The Palladium Theater groundbreaking is planned for July 2025 and is expected to reopen the summer of 2026, coinciding with the building’s 100th anniversary.

    “It’s actually about making the building work better for what we do,” he said. “It’s going to sound better, it’s going to look better, and it’s going to be more fun to come and see a show here.”

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