TAMPA, Fla. — St. Petersburg is one step closer to buying a tract of railroad land to convert into a trail downtown, connecting the historic gas plant district to the Pinellas Trail.

What You Need To Know

CSX has agreed to sell its mile-long stretch of downtown land to St. Petersburg for $1 million, according to City Councilman Corey Givens, Jr.  

Once approved by city council, nearby businesses will contribute an additional $6 million to construct a trail

The trail will connect the Gas Plant District with the Pinellas Trail

When it’s finished, the city will lease portions of the trail back to the businesses for 99 years

“The City of St. Petersburg and CSX have been duking it out, but they were able to negotiate and come to terms of settlement. And this is a win-win for both the city, CSX and the residents in general,” said Councilman Corey Givens, Jr., who represents District 7.

Once approved by the city council, Givens says St. Pete will purchase the nearly mile-long tract of land for $1 million.

Ellison Developers will kick in another $2 million and Mark Ferguson, owner of Ferg’s Sports Bar, will contribute $4 million to create the trail. The city will then lease portions back to the businesses for 99 years.

“This is an opportunity for us to connect First Avenue South with Fifth Avenue North along the Pinellas County Trail,” said Givens. “There will also be an opportunity for you to eat along that trail, for you to live along that trail, there’s so many new developments that’re happening along this area.”

The goal is to create a kind of “live work play” area around this trail and Tropicana Field, something Ferg’s owner Mark Ferguson believes may keep the coveted Rays around a bit longer.

“It was a hard decision, but you look over 99 years, what’s going to happen to that area, it’s only going up. This will be a great other factor bringing more people downtown, in a safer and healthier way,” Ferguson said.  

Givens says the city plans to use “in town community redevelopment area” tax dollars to fund the city’s million-dollar stake. That money, Givens says, could sunset as early as 2032.

“As I walk this railroad, I feel like I’m walking the steps of my own history,” said Givens.

The councilman is the fourth generation of his family to live in St Pete. He says his great-great-grandfather laid rail in the area. To be at the forefront of the redevelopment means so much more than any political talking point.

“For so long, this area has been blighted, it’s been unkept, and this is an opportunity for us to have more than just parking spaces,” Givens said.

“Just like the Beltline in Atlanta, the more trails you have, the more people will use them. More people will be off the roads and more people into businesses,” Ferguson said.