{"id":144673,"date":"2026-02-05T12:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/144673\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T12:41:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:41:08","slug":"st-pete-city-council-to-mull-next-move-for-gas-plant-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/144673\/","title":{"rendered":"St Pete City Council to mull next move for Gas Plant site"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. \u2014 After St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch expressed his interest in moving forward with selecting a developer for the Historic Gas Plant District site,<\/a> a city council member is asking the administration to pump the brakes.<\/p>\n

St Pete City Council member Brandi Gabbard filed a resolution asking the city administration to pursue a \u2018planning-first framework\u2019 before choosing a developer. The item will be discussed by city council members during Thursday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n

What You Need To Know<\/p>\n

City council member asks for ‘planning-first framework’ before moving forward with choosing Gas Plant site developer\u00a0
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\u00a0Mayor Ken Welch issued memo stating now is the time to move forward
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\u00a0Rays reaffirm commitment to move to Tampa
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As of now, Rays lease expires after 2028 season\u00a0<\/p>\n

In response to the resolution, Mayor Welch issued a memo asking city council members to stay committed to action and progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some who believe we should continue to further delay this development, but I want to be clear as I reaffirm my position – we should move forward to fulfill the decades-long promise of equitable and beneficial development of this site. The time for action is now,\u201d Welch wrote.<\/p>\n

Update to what’s happening with the site where Tropicana Field currently sits \u26be\ufe0f<\/p>\n

St Pete City Council Member Brandi Gabbard wants to pursue a ‘planning-first framework’ and hold off on picking a developer. This memo from Mayor Ken Welch says ‘the time for action is now’ @BN9<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/uvfJ5BITd6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Angie Angers (@angie_angers) February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Welch referenced at least four different rounds of proposals and community input sessions over the last decade dating back to the HKS Master Planning in 2016, which took place under former administration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith respect to timing, pausing all progress for yet another planning exercise \u2014 after proposals have been submitted, risks repeating a familiar and painful pattern for this community: plans discussed, promises acknowledged, and action deferred. St. Pete, including the families and descendants impacted by the original displacement, has already waited generations for meaningful progress. I do not believe further inaction serves them or the City,\u201d Welch continued.<\/p>\n

Welch has family ties to the Historic Gas Plant District, as does City Council Member Corey Givens Jr. who supports what he calls a planning first – not proposal first – process.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no problem telling the developers what we want to see at the Historic Gas Plant site\u2026 I don\u2019t think it should be the other way around,\u201d he said. \u201cI care about honoring the history of that site and I think we have to be intentional. Part of honoring the history of the site means taking a community driven approach to doing so. That doesn\u2019t mean proposal first, it means planning first.. and we need the community to be a part of that process.\u201d<\/p>\n

The city of St. Pete has received 9 new proposals<\/a> from groups that wish to redevelop the 86-acre site.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A discussion regarding the resolution is set to take place during Thursday\u2019s city council meeting which is set for 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the city says its in the administration\u2019s purview to select a developer. But in order to get a funding vote to pass later down the line, the mayor would need city council support.<\/p>\n