400 Central developer asks Mayor Welch for more time to bid on Historic Gas Plant site
/tropicana field, which is undergoing repairs, and the surrounding acreage of the former gas plant district | St. Pete rising
Red Apple Real Estate, the New York–based development firm behind the 46-story Residences at 400 Central in downtown St. Petersburg, has expressed interest in redeveloping the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District. But only if the city allows more time for proposals.
In a letter sent November 7th to Mayor Ken Welch and City Council, Red Apple CEO John Catsimatidis urged the city to extend its planned 30-day window for alternative submissions related to the site.
Earlier this month, Mayor Welch announced that he would open a brief period in mid-November for developers to submit competing proposals after the city received an unsolicited $6.8 billion plan led by Casey Ellison of Ellison Companies, Cathie Wood of ARK Invest, and Jonathan Graham of Horus Construction.
“Red Apple Real Estate is well-positioned to transform the 86 acres into what I call a ‘wow’ development,” Catsimatidis wrote, adding that his firm has the “knowledge, expertise, and relationships” to create market-rate and affordable housing, along with amenities that enhance quality of life and create jobs.
“However, a 30-day window beginning this month is simply not enough time for most serious master planners or developers to make a competitive pitch,” he added.
400 Central, which is nearing completion in downtown st. pete | st. pete rising
Catsimatidis, who is also planning a new mixed-use apartment tower near Mirror Lake, suggested that a longer window would allow “those locally, nationally, and internationally who are experienced and know how to deliver” to participate.
He added that Red Apple would be willing to focus solely on the residential portion of the redevelopment if the city preferred that approach.
“One hallmark of your administration is inclusion,” he wrote to Welch. “We ask that you include not just those who have gone through this process before and not just those who see this as free advertising, but those who can truly deliver.”
Under Florida law, when a local government receives an unsolicited proposal and chooses to explore it further, it must open the process to competition through a public notice.
In 2022, developers were given 88 days to respond to the city’s request for proposals for the same site, nearly three times longer than the current 30-day window.
Red Apple is not alone in its request for more time. Late last month, South Florida-based developer Kolter, which built downtown St. Pete towers ONE St. Petersburg, Saltaire, and Art House, also asked the city to extend the bid period to 90 days.
