Anna Maria officials are fishing for ideas.
City commissioners and Mayor Dan Murphy are interested in public opinion about the best uses for the vacant building on the rebuilt Anna Maria City Pier.
A city pier workshop meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, to solicit thoughts regarding the city-owned building’s use, Murphy said Jan. 21 in a phone call with The Islander.
The mayor said the meeting will be held on the pier, 100 Bay Blvd., so people could get a feel for the space.
“It’s going to take a lot of public input and commission thought,” Murphy said.
Among the uses already suggested is a restaurant with inside seating.
A former use on the historic pier was a restaurant offering full-service dining and beer and wine sales.
Murphy said that as officials prepared to reopen the pier, restaurateurs expressed interest in the location.
However, their restaurant plans called for use of the entire structure and Murphy said the commission nixed them in favor of splitting the space.
Other suggestions include space for special events and meetings, retail shops and a marine learning lab.
“There’s benefit to every one of the ideas,” Murphy said.
Asked if he had a preference, the mayor said to say so would be disingenuous.
“My preference is that we have direction. Let’s be proactive and make something happen,” he said.
Murphy does not anticipate the matter to be settled with a meeting.
“I don’t think it’s wise to make a decision in one meeting about something so big and important,” he concluded.
The new pier was built after Hurricane Irma damaged the historic pier in 2017 and, based on the city’s insurance, required demolition.
Previously, the T-end of the old structure included a restaurant, bait shop and 24-hour fishing.
During the construction of the new pier, two buildings were erected.
The northernmost building now houses restrooms for pier patrons and the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop, owned by Brian Seymour, Nick Graham and Vic Mattay, who also operate businesses on Pine Avenue.
The available location is the vacant building on the south side of the T-end.
