ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch announced the developer selected for the redesign of the Gas Plant District on Thursday.
Councilman Corey Givens says the city is moving forward with ‘The Burg Bid LLC, submitted by Blake Investment Partners. The $8.1 billion development includes the creation of the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, more than 3,600 affordable housing units, an event center and a trail honoring the history of the 86-acre site.
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Families who frequent the area have a clear idea about what should be included in the development where a historically African American neighborhood was demolished for the construction of Tropicana Field. Tim Scheu says, “There’s a lot of history here, too, that kind of was erased when the Rays came to town. So, it’d be great to, you know, revisit some of that history and sort of pay homage to the people who made this home.”
Plans appear to include tearing down Tropicana Field. The proposal submitted to the city says: Early development outside the Tropicana Stadium footprint, allowing progress prior to stadium demolition.
Earlier in the year crews completed millions of dollars in repairs to the stadium which was damaged during Hurricane Milton. The Rays are contractually obligated to play in the stadium through the 2028 season.
Mayor Welch has been repeatedly criticized and blamed for the demise of a deal to keep the team in St. Petersburg. He’s up for reelection, which has some community members skeptical about the timing of the announcement.
Kari Mueller with the group Home Runs Matter says, “It does feel that it’s very rushed, that this is done purposefully because of an upcoming election, and it’s not being thoughtfully considered and fully vetted.”
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