ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After years of planning and a few false starts, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch is expected to announce his pick for the proposal to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District Thursday.
According to Spectrum Bay News 9’s partner newspaper the Tampa Bay Times report he’s chosen ‘The Burg Bid’ from Blake Investment Partners. Neither the city nor Blake has confirmed the deal, but ‘The Burg Bid’ made the shortlist of four proposals that could shape the future of the Gas Plant District.
According to information on the city’s web site, this would be an $8 billion project. It would include more than 3,600 affordable and workforce housing units at the site and throughout the city.
There would also be a permanent home for the Woodson African American Museum of Florida and the largest new city park in 119 years. According to the proposal, the only public funds Blake would ask for are Community Reinvest Act dollars to build that park and new public infrastructure.
Robin Davidov with the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area said members have been following the redevelopment process, and Davidov said they supported a resolution passed by city council in February that asked Welch to pursue a “planning-first framework” before picking a developer.
Davidov said she would’ve liked to see the city go through that planning process, after which council could’ve adopted requirements for details like zoning, building, and renewable energy.
“We’re really concerned with environmental standards,” she said. “Right now, the city has very stringent ordinances for how you build a building, whether it’s a green building, whether it conserves water – really important.
“But it only applies to city buildings. It doesn’t apply to private buildings.”
That press conference is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday. Watch LIVE coverage on Bay News 9.