At least one St. Petersburg City Council member wants the mayoral administration to pump the brakes on selecting a redevelopment proposal for the Historic Gas Plant District, which is currently home to Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Brandi Gabbard has requested a vote on a resolution that formally opposes Mayor Ken Welch \u201cmoving forward with any developer selection\u201d before the city completes an extensive study. She submitted the new business item Friday.<\/p>\n
Gabbard\u2019s request was subsequently added to the Feb. 5 agenda. Proposals are due Wednesday, and the city council will vote on her resolution the following day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city has a responsibility to ensure that the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District is guided by sound planning and principles and meaningful community participation,\u201d states the resolution.<\/p>\n
\u201cBest practices for large-scale urban redevelopment support the use of independent, professionally qualified planners to lead and engage residents in meaningful planning efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabbard\u2019s resolution will likely garner some internal and external support. It notes that in October, the city council unanimously approved a committee discussion on hiring the Urban Land Institute (ULI<\/a>) to study the roughly 86-acre site.<\/p>\n The organization boasts the world\u2019s oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary land use experts. ULI Tampa Bay\u2019s Advisory Services program would help ensure that future development aligns with St. Petersburg\u2019s current goals.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m not pausing,\u201d Welch told the Catalyst.<\/p>\n Welch reiterated Monday that the city has spent over a decade planning for the Gas Plant\u2019s future. Those efforts included two studies<\/a>, \u201cboth with a stadium and without a stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n Over 1,000 residents helped shape previous agreements -approved by the city council \u2013 with the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines development team through several community meetings. \u201cThis development has such a history that is unique,\u201d Welch said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just a blank slate,\u201d he added. \u201cThere are promises tied to that, and that\u2019s why some of the same \u2018plan first\u2019 folks are the folks who opposed the Rays\/Hines deal. They want us to sell it all for the highest value. It\u2019s about honoring those promises<\/a>, and that\u2019s the very definition of inclusive progress.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the resolution, \u201cestablishing a clear, community-driven strategic roadmap for redevelopment\u201d before selecting or advancing a proposal will \u201cplace the city in a stronger position to negotiate and deliver outcomes that honor the past, while ensuring lasting benefits for present and future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSuch planning efforts completed in advance of any developer selection will allow the city to clearly define land use, infrastructure, affordability, public benefits, design expectations, economic development opportunities, environmental stewardship and community priorities for the Historic Gas Plant District,\u201d states the resolution.<\/p>\n The council did not set a date for the committee discussion in October<\/a>. At the time, Gabbard called the study an \u201cimportant step forward to making sure we have voices at the table\u201d who are \u201cnot here to make money off of this property.\u201d<\/p>\n The Oct. 17 meeting came two weeks after the city received a $6.8 billion unsolicited bid<\/a> from ARK Investment Management, Ellison Development and Horus Construction. Four days later, Welch announced that he would formally launch a land disposition<\/a> process and accept additional proposals.<\/p>\n