Forty years ago, I wrote about the opportunities I hoped the development of the Gas Plant area would offer our city, especially young residents like me. A few years ago, I wrote another column as a not-so-young resident in support of the Hines/Rays development. Today, I am writing to ask that people stop “playing in our face,” as St. Petersburg Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders said recently.
The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Florida monitored and advocated for the development of this neighborhood from day one. One of our five initiatives is to continue monitoring this process, and it is important that we no longer delay. When African American families were being displaced in the early 1980s, the alliance was advocating on their behalf and for their businesses. Doing less now would be a betrayal and an abdication of our responsibilities.
The powerful and wealthy majority invoke an arrogant privilege when they declare to the minority population, “You can wait; what is the hurry?” When we must sit and listen to the laments of, “Things are moving too fast.” Unfortunately, these laments are not rooted in authentic concern or facts; rather, they are opportunistic and callous cries to usher the status quo back into its place of prominence in our city. Why are we waiting? Waiting hinders equitable access to jobs, entrepreneurship opportunities and generational advancement.
Gas Plant descendant Deacon Mordecai Walker died last year, waiting. Many of the descendants who were promised more than an empty parking lot have left the “Sunshine City” for their heavenly rest, never seeing the promises delivered. Waiting is wrong. Waiting is injustice. Waiting is harsh. Waiting is political. Waiting is calculating. Waiting is discriminatory to an entire community. Waiting is the death of trustworthiness. Waiting is death to trusting stakeholders who treat our heritage as nonexistent or invisible.
At length, bids and proposals for the site have been exhausted. Last month at the annual State of the City event, Mayor Kenneth T. Welch said, “… it seems like all we have been doing is planning.”
He is right, in 2016, the HKS master planning process was conducted. In 2020, the Duke Energy Site Readiness plan was completed, and the Tropicana Field request for proposals — a detailed development plan — was disseminated. The 2022 Historic Gas Plant request for proposals included 12 agreements, including a detailed development plan approved by City Council in July 2024, as well as planning guidelines for Future Land Use and Zoning, and the intown and intown west community redevelopment areas.
Residents have consistently attended listening sessions and community conversations, expressing a desire for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, workforce development housing and a new African American history museum at the site. There has been substantial planning for this development. Let’s not pretend that there is a need for more evaluation of this site.
It is offensive that generations of African American descendants should wait another day after 50 years of a black asphalt jungle. It is disheartening that political games are being played while city residents seek workforce development housing and viable career opportunities. I am concerned about those who seek to “run out the clock,” hoping that the current administration will not be able to select and approve a developer for the Gas Plant.
The mayor will make his decision, and there will be opportunities for dialogue, public listening sessions and community conversations, as this city has done before. Hopefully, the City Council will approve a plan, and a dream deferred can be actualized. Why? Because that is the honorable action.
We can’t wait because the attacks on Black history require a state-of-the-art museum that uses the latest technology and resources to tell the accurate, impactful story of the Africans who were brought to America by force, yet through resilience and intelligence made substantial accomplishments in our city and country. The museum will join the city’s Dali, fine arts, James and history museums as a cultural and historical destination.
We can’t wait because the destruction from the recent hurricanes demonstrated the need for diverse employment opportunities beyond hospitality. We cannot afford to lose the talent of multiple generations because we are not living up to the value of inclusivity.
We can’t wait because stable housing represents dignity, and this development positions the city to significantly increase workforce housing.
We can’t wait because “playing in our face” is painful and disrespectful. It means that one’s value, experience, history or contributions are dismissed, mocked and devalued based on the other person’s actions, behaviors, voting and collaborations. It has been decades of inaction, decades of promises, lies, games and maneuvering. It is immoral to deny progress for the sake of politics. It is immoral to deny progress because a bent toward bias, bullying and mistreatment is stronger than the moral arc to justice, fairness and respect.
It is easy to become complacent about one’s responsibilities when token projects have been offered throughout the decades, and they become the check-the-box, shiny star of advancement. The proclamations of “Hold on. Just wait. And not now” are weak, comfortable refrains. My confidence is shaken by elected officials who initially voted to move forward, yet now there is a chorus of “let’s wait.” Why?
I have reviewed the nine proposals with my family, staff and team, and I will be supporting the vision of Blake Investment Partners.
We have been asked for decades to hold the weight of “wait.” We are tired.
Rev. J.C. Pritchett II is the CEO of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Florida.