ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Last year, the deal with the City of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays to build a new stadium and mixed-use development at the Historic Gas Plant District fell through.
Ever since, there’s been a question mark about what will happen to the property.
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St. Pete Council to vote on pausing developer selection for Gas Plant District
One group, ARK Ellison Horus, submitted an unsolicited bid last year to develop the 86-acre site.
The city invited competitors to present alternative proposals. That deadline ended on Tuesday.
Nine developers have now submitted proposals.
Not everyone is on board to move forward with developers right now.
City Council member Brandi Gabbard has put an item on Thursday’s agenda expressing opposition to Mayor Ken Welch’s plan to push ahead with selecting a developer for the Historic Gas Plant District.
She’s requested to pause any action to select, negotiate with, or advance a developer.
Instead, Gabbard’s asking for more time to create a comprehensive planning framework for the site, which, according to the agenda item, would serve as a strategic road map before moving forward with a developer.
In response on Wednesday, Mayor Ken Welch shared a note addressed to members of City Council reaffirming his position to move ahead.
He argued that the city has done extensive planning of the site over the years in multiple instances.
Welch also stressed that no development agreement would be approved without transparency, public engagement, and City Council action.
City Council members are expected to vote on whether or not to pause the process to plan at Tuesday’s meeting.
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