The City of St. Petersburg is currently evaluating four varied proposals for its historic Gas Plant District. This major renovation would include the potential redevelopment of Tropicana Field and the land surrounding it. First, the city will evaluate the proposals. Then the public will be invited to hear each proposer summarize their respective plans. The final decision will be made at the end of January 2023. Below, we explain the importance of the project and include more details about the proposals for St. Pete Historic Gas Plant District.
Ensuring equity in St. Pete
The various proposals submitted include a wealth of creative ideas. Some elements mentioned are:
- A cultural, entertainment and residential area
- A mixed-use village surrounding the ballpark
- “Attainable” residential in a mixed-income, diverse community
- The continued option for Major League Baseball
Lastly, all proposals include an inclusive, sustainable and diverse neighborhood that can be a catalyst for jobs and wealth creation
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and the city scrapped the initial requests for proposals earlier this year. They began a second process in August. The focus on fairness is a major part of the redevelopment. As it says on the city website:
The new Request for Proposal process will ensure intentional equity, vibrancy and economic vitality for years to come
The approximately 86-acre land parcel is in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. This area includes Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
“We commend 50 Plus 1 Sports, Hines & Tampa Bay Rays, Restoration Associates, and Sugar Hill Community Partners for their diligent efforts to submit proposals that will fuel inclusive progress and equitable development for future generations who will live, visit and do business in our city,” said Welch. “We’ll review the proposers’ plans with a keen eye on their interpretation of affordable and workforce housing; office and meeting space; arts and culture; research, innovation, and education; recreation; open space, healthy and sustainable development; and intentional equity. We look forward to engaging the community as we determine the future of this historically and economically vital part of St. Petersburg, and the Tampa Bay Region.”
Revitalizing the Historic Gas Plant District
It has been nearly 40 years now since members of the historic community were displaced as Major League Baseball moved to Tropicana Field. The move brought the city its first Major League Baseball team, then Tampa Bay Devil Rays, now the Tampa Bay Rays. But it also forced residents and businesses to move. Citizens were promised jobs, equitable development and new opportunities — none of which came to be.
Related: Hidden History: Gas Plant District
The city is using this RFP process to “fulfill those unrealized promises and bring to St. Petersburg new attainable housing, equitable business opportunities, office space, meeting space, open space and overall equitable and impactful economic development that benefits all.”
Proposals for St. Pete Historic Gas Plant District
Here is a brief overview of the four proposals. Also, if you click on the headline for each section we’ve linked to the FULL RFP proposal for each business.
50 Plus 1 Sports
Monti Valrie, principal and managing partner with 50 Plus 1 Sports, said they would use innovation design, planning and development to create a leisure destination with high-end amenities. Creating new opportunities for the city.
Valrie further explains:
“The key differentiator with 50 Plus 1 Sports is their commitment to 50% minority, women, veteran and SDV owned business participation. Further, no other team provides programs that set up businesses and people for success, including provided childcare, medical and transportation.”
“Our vision for the proposed site is a diverse and authentic public space that reflects the needs, passions and cultures of St. Petersburg. It will actively work to serve the public through career opportunities, accessible retail, sustainable infrastructure, various transportation options and connections to adjoining neighborhoods to promote future development.”
Hines & Tampa Bay Rays
Jeffrey C. Hines, with Hines & Tampa Bay Rays, said their RFP proposal has incorporated the city’s goals as part of their plans. This includes a mixed-use village surrounding a new state-of-the-art major league ballpark. He said it would provide “intentional and restorative opportunities for economic equity and inclusion for Black/African American and other marginalized groups.” It would honor the district’s legacy while connecting it with the surrounding communities.
“Having undertaken projects of similar scale around the U.S. and across the world, Hines recognizes that we have a tremendous opportunity to create a world-class, place making community that will also enhance and revitalize surrounding neighborhoods, while reconnecting the Historic Gas Plant District to these important neighborhoods through a series of new streets and public green space.”
The Hines proposal includes plans for 600 residences off-site through various homeownership grants and rental assistance programs. This would represent 23% of the total housing for the project.
Restoration Associates
Restoration Associates is a team of four real estate development entities comprised of local stakeholders and philanthropists. These include Onicx Group/Dr. Kiran Patel, Invictus Communities, Brennan Investments and Steven Freedman. Each would be involved in some aspect of the development.
The plan includes between 2,800 and 3,800 residential units in a mixed-income, diverse community. It also provides an option for Major League Baseball and renovation of Tropicana Field.
It would be a 21st century low-carbon footprint community that is sustainable for future generations, according to the proposal.
Sugar Hill Community Partners
Sugar Hill Community Partners’ proposal is for an inclusive, sustainable urban neighborhood that would be a catalyst for economic growth and bring “exceptional experience building and operating complex real estate developments.”
PMG, a major housing developer, has joined this team. They are already working on the Robles 1,500-unit affordable housing project in Tampa.
Their proposal includes three off-campus affordable housing developments. As well as funding for Habitat for Humanity Pinellas and West Pasco Counties to purchase vacant lots and functionally obsolete houses in South St. Petersburg. Exchanging them with new, high-quality single-family homes for income-qualified families.