The City of St. Petersburg is conducting an empirical study of its seawall, looking for places where it is critically deficient or near failure. The task, spearheaded by director of engineering and capital improvements Brejesh Prayman, will inform the repair and future guidelines of over 600,000 linear feet of concrete comprising the wall. This stout lip of concrete is what keeps our city from submerging.
Only about 80,000 feet of that wall falls under the purview of the City. Another 20,000 feet is owned by the federal government, the state or the county. The lion’s share – more than 500,000 feet – is privately owned.
Even if the city builds up its most critical areas, private owners – who are beholden to keep their walls structurally sound – may be a chink in the city’s armor. Prayman said the study will not involve inspecting private seawalls, but he expects the conversations and guidance that come out of it will help residents deal with their own…