\u201cI believe that this is an important step forward to making sure we have voices at the table who have that experience, but have no skin in the game,\u201d Gabbard said. \u201cThey\u2019re not here to make money off of this property.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are here to give us guidance so that we make sure we make the best deal, the best negotiation possible, for the residents of the City of St. Petersburg.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Tampa Bay Rays exited an arduously negotiated $6.5 billion redevelopment stadium deal in March. ARK Investment Management, Ellison Development and Horus Construction submitted a $6.8 billion vision<\/a> for the site Oct. 3, and Council Chair Copley Gerdes told the Catalyst that it \u201cchecked a lot of boxes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Two key stakeholders expressed support for Gabbard\u2019s proposal at Thursday\u2019s meeting. Chris Steinocher, CEO of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, noted the city previously hired ULI Tampa Bay<\/a> to help create a waterfront master plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n He said the previous study provided \u201cgood data and opportunities for thinking differently.\u201d While the Ark Ellison Horus proposal has \u201ca lot of great ideas,\u201d Steinocher said other groups could \u201chave some great ideas, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did we learn from getting the best master developer in Hines and the Rays that walked away from us?\u201d Steinocher continued. \u201cWhat do we want this to really do for us?\u201d<\/p>\n Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, said a ULI study wouldn\u2019t impede Mayor Ken Welch from potentially moving forward with the latest redevelopment proposal. \u201cIn fact, the ULI concept predates this bid by several months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the Ark Ellison team is hoping to work with ULI to refine their proposal no matter what,\u201d Mathis added. \u201cIf you select their unsolicited bid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Ark Ellison Horus included a \u201cGas Plant Hall\u201d in the latest proposal to reimagine the area. Rendering provided.<\/p>\n Mayor Ken Welch has prioritized fulfilling long-deferred promises<\/a> to the thousands of Black residents and businesses displaced from the site in the 1980s. He is also up for reelection in 2026, and Gabbard recently confirmed her long-rumored candidacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n She said the ULI report would help determine if \u201cit\u2019s even right to go with a master plan developer<\/a>.\u201d Welch is also considering letting the city lead efforts to build affordable senior housing and a new Woodson African American Museum of Florida on parcels recently retaken from the Rays.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not to put aside anything that may be before the administration at this point,\u201d Gabbard said. \u201cThis is to really give the city council some guidance \u2026 How can we really get the biggest return on our investment?\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gas-Plant-Hall-1-e1760539095951.jpg\")
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