Mayor Kriseman selects Midtown Development for Tropicana Field redevelopment
/After a year and a half long process, Mayor Rick Kriseman announced this afternoon his selection of Midtown Development to helm the 86-acre Tropicana Field redevelopment.
In July 2020, the City released a Request for Proposal (RFP) which sought out groups seeking to be the master developer for the property.
In the RFP, the City outlined their desire to partner with a development team to establish a mixed-use neighborhood that recognizes the diverse and rich culture of St. Petersburg while also implementing principles of Smart Cities, sustainability, and a healthy community.
The RFP also stated that the City would provide a minimum of $75 million for infrastructure development of the site to be funded through tax increment financing (TIF) funds.
Midtown’s proposal, titled Creekside, features 30 blocks of new development with a transportation network that aims to reconnect the site to the downtown street grid.
Creekside would include over 10,000 residential units, of which 20% would be affordable or workforce, office space, retail space, as well as 28.5 acres of pedestrian open space. The development would also have a 510-key hotel with 50,000 square feet of conference space.
Paying tribute to the previous African American community on the site, a Heritage Trail would loop along a pedestrian greenway and beside Booker Creek with historical markers and monuments to important events.
Development costs for Creekside are projected at approximately $3 billion and construction would take place between 2023 and 2048. Creekside will incorporate Complete Street principles and will aspire for LEED Silver sustainability standard and WELL building certifications.
Although Mayor Kriseman has selected Midtown Development, the Tropicana Field saga is far from over. There are still major question marks that need to be addressed.
The next step is to have Mayor Kriseman send his recommendation to City Council for approval. Will City Council agree that Midtown Development is the best option for the Tropicana Field site?
Also, Mayor Kriseman will be passing the baton to Mayor-elect Ken Welch next month. Does Welch support Kriseman’s recommendation?
Lastly, what does Rays management think of the Midtown Development proposal? The Rays are contracted to play at Tropicana Field through the 2027 season. Until then, they hold all development rights to the land.
The future of the Rays in St. Petersburg is still up in the air. Recent chatter indicates the Rays are favoring two new stadiums – in Ybor City and Montreal. The baseball team would split their time between the two cities, playing the first half in Tampa Bay and the second half in Montreal. However, a final decision has not been made yet. And the biggest hurdle of financing has not been addressed.
