ST. PETE BEACH —
Yvonne Marcus has seen lots of ups and downs in the 35 years she has run the Art Expo shop in the historic Corey Avenue business district.
But she sees signs of a hopeful future in recent discussions among city and business leaders to revitalize this half-mile stretch — bounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Boca Ciega Bay — that serves as St. Pete Beach’s main street. City officials plan to hold public meetings about creating a community redevelopment area, allowing them to use a portion of tax revenue from the district to make improvements in infrastructure, aesthetics and other areas.
Members of the Corey Avenue Business Association envision this 1930s-era marketplace lined with palms and umbrellas for sidewalk cafes, with a stately monument at Gulf Boulevard to grab the attention of drivers speeding along the town’s main drag.
“I think there are a lot of people today that seek out the historic areas and the mom-and-pop shops and the quaint boutiques,” Marcus said.
