Foundation Vision Partners presenting their proposal for the Historic Gas Plant District at the Sunshine Center. Photo by Luiza Campos.
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Last week, St Pete residents learned more about a proposal for the future of the Historic Gas Plant District.
Decades ago, the construction of the Tampa Bay Rays stadium forced residents and businesses to leave the district area.
The Tropicana Field now sits there totaling almost 86-acres with its surrounding parking lots.
Now, St Petersburg is taking proposals to redevelop the area and is trying to bring a community back. They received nine proposals and shortlisted four.
Among the shortlisted proposals, is the advisory firm Foundation Vision Partners.
The firm combines three main companies: Backstreets, Quintegrity and Besco.
The group is also partnering with architecture firms Gensler and Stantec.
At the Sunshine Center, FVP presented their plan which is expected to last for decades.
They proposed to turn the stadium into a mixed-use community that would include residential units, offices, hospitals, hotels, parks, among other things.
Sarah Joubert works for Gensler, one of the companies working with the FVP group.
“We’re looking for anywhere from probably 15 to 20 years, and that’s an estimate. There are market drivers that are going to establish the ultimate timeline,” Joubert said.
Joubert also assured community members that the development would not displace any current residents.
“It is really undeveloped land that makes up the Tropicana field development and so when that potential user vacates, it is land that is up for grabs to be redeveloped,” Joubert said.
Anddrikk Frazier is a partner for FVP and says they plan to re-engage the community.
“So now, Campbell Park, the warehouse districts, there will be actual like ties into those communities, to make it more like a walkable, usable city,” Frazier said.
FVP is a St Pete based company and they said their proposal allows the city to retain ownership, while potentially increasing profit and opening the district to local businesses.
In June, Mayor Welch will select a proposal and it will be investigated by the City Council and the Community Benefits Advisory Council Committee (CBAC) Project Committee.
Then, in July, Mayor Welch and city staff will begin to negotiate a term sheet and contract for approval by the City Council.
Frazier’s expectation is that the city will “follow suit” their schedule.
“We’re just hopeful that we’ll be one of the ones that are selected,” Frazier said.
City council will announce next steps later this year.