Paint 'em, decorate 'em or tear 'em down. Just don't leave Fort Pierce's silos as they are

In building a city's image, it's important to get the details right.

If you're visiting somewhere for the first time, you're going to notice things that will help shape your opinion about the place, for better or worse. For example, you're likely to feel more positive about a downtown area with properly maintained streets and sidewalks, attractive landscaping, and buildings that appear to be in good condition.

Which brings me to the subject of the twin silos that sit on the edge of Fort Pierce's port district.

These 20-story silos are pretty hard to miss. They're located at 1101 Harbor St., near the Derecktor Shipyards. They can be seen looming over the city's skyline when approaching from almost any direction, including the water.

And let me put this in the kindest way possible: They're ugly.

OK, maybe you could say the same about lifts Derecktor uses to haul large boats out of the water. Or other industrial structures found elsewhere in the city.

The difference is, the silos aren't being used for anything. They're just sitting there, taking up space.

And, while Fort Pierce features spectacular views looking in several directions, the silos are an eyesore. It's unlikely visitors to the Sunrise City see them without forming some kind of impression.

Chances are, that impression isn't good.

Assuming Donald Trump's trial in the classified documents case happens next year, does anyone who cares about the Treasure Coast's image want to see those silos in the background of national television reporters' stand-up shots?

Tearing down the silos would seem like the simplest solution. However, that would require the consent of the property owners. According to St. Lucie County property records, the land on which the towers sit is owned by the Lloyd F. Bell Revocable Trust of 2011.

Carmela Bell, a Bell family representative, declined to comment about any future plans for the silos.

But assuming the family isn't ready to demolish the towers, which probably would carry a substantial cost, the structures could at least be painted or decorated to make them look better.

And I'm not the first person to suggest this. Consider this part of the text of Fort Pierce's community redevelopment plan, written back in 2001:

"In addition, the concrete silos are a prominent landmark on the city skyline. Their appearance can be improved with painting or some other type of cosmetic change. A design competition would elicit more ideas from the public."

The silos were built for Florida Sun Cement, an affiliate of Charles Redi-Mix Inc., to store concrete. In 1989, a group of environmentalists, business owners and citizens opposed their construction, at least partially over concerns about cement dust polluting the air.

Eastern Cement Co., a multinational business headquartered in Saudi Arabia, bought the company, then stopped using the Fort Pierce silos because the company had other silos in West Palm Beach.

The Fort Pierce silos have sat idle for decades, which has prompted some local residents to come up with alternative uses for them. Some have suggested converting the silos into office space or condominiums, which could be more expensive than just tearing them down and building new cylindrical buildings for those purposes.

Some have suggested the silos could be used for rock climbing, bungee jumping or rappelling. I recently saw one Facebook comment that suggested the silos be tipped on their sides to create massive skateboard pipes using the interior walls.

The silos haven't escaped Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson's attention.

"In my 10 years as Mayor, the idea of murals on the silos has arisen from time to time," Hudson wrote in an email. "I love murals and love the idea of creating art on buildings. There are issues with the silos.

"First, they’re on private property. Second, creating murals on the silos could be costly, being that there’s massive surface and would require scaffolding. I don’t know who would fund such a project or how much it would cost. Third, there is some public sentiment that they should be demolished. If art is created on the silos, then there could be public pushback to save the art if the silos are ever scheduled to be demolished."

All of those are valid points. Still, I think Fort Pierce officials should look into this further.

Kenny Maguire, an artist currently living in Tallahassee but with a home in Jensen Beach, has done dozens of murals and other artwork around Fort Pierce, including a welcome sign along Second Street and paintings at the Manatee Observation and Education Center, Depot Drive and the Porpoise Beach seawall.

Maguire said he's had an interest in painting the silos since he first moved to the area in 2010.

"When I see them, I see possibilities," Maguire said. "They are visible from all over Fort Pierce."

One of Maguire's ideas is to paint the silos to look like giant lighthouses, maybe with an observation deck on top. Another idea would be to cover the silos with scenes of aquatic life.

"The possibilities are kind of endless because they're shaped the way they are," Maguire said.

As to how much time and money a project like that might take, Maguire hedged. Painting time might require a year or more, depending on weather conditions, and the cost could be around $200,000, "maybe less."

Maguire, who said he relocated because his wife got a job with the state health department, said he would be willing to return to the area full time if given an opportunity to paint the silos.

There might be other artists interested in offering up their services as well.

There could be less permanent options than painting, like putting lights and decorations on the towers during holiday seasons.

Nothing seems likely to happen, though, unless city leaders make improving the silos' visual appearance a priority. If they don't, they should get used to the idea some outsiders are going to think of Fort Pierce as a gloomy, Rust Belt industrial city that somehow got transplanted to Florida.

To me, the choice is clear.

This column reflects the opinion of Blake Fontenay. Contact him via email at bfontenay@gannett.com or at 772-232-5424.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Beautify downtown Fort Pierce by doing something about those old silos