An aerial of tropicana field and downtown skyline | st. pete rising

As St. Pete prepares to choose a developer for the once-in-a-generation redevelopment of the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District, competing development teams are racing to assemble powerhouse lineups capable of delivering a multi-billion-dollar, multi-decade vision.

On January 4th, Mayor Ken Welch opened a 30-day window inviting developers and interested parties to submit proposals for the massive downtown site, following the receipt of an unsolicited proposal in October 2025 from a group led by ARK Invest, Ellison Development, and Horus Construction.

Since then, investor Thompson Whitney Blake, CEO of St. Pete-based Blake Investment Partners, has announced he will also be submitting a proposal to redevelop the property.

ARK Ellison Horus and Blake are currently the only developers that have publicly signaled their intent to submit bids for the site, although additional groups could throw their hat in the ring before the February 3rd deadline.

Other firms have expressed interest in the project, including Red Apple Real Estate, the New York-based firm behind the 46-story Residences at 400 Central, and Delray Beach-based Kolter Urban, the developer behind ONE St. Petersburg, Saltaire, and Art House condo towers. However, neither has not publicly indicated whether they will formally submit a competing proposal.

Tropicana field and surrounding acreage | st. pete rising

As the submission deadline approaches, teams are working to strengthen their bids by bringing on nationally recognized developers, engineers, and consultants that are meant to demonstrate the financial capacity, technical expertise, and delivery track record required for a project of this scale.

ARK Ellison Horus recently announced that several national firms have submitted letters of interest to partner with the team on its $6.8 billion proposal.

The group is proposing to redevelop 95.5 acres, which includes Tropicana Field, into a new mixed-use district anchored by innovation, housing, cultural institutions, and world-class event venues.

ark ellison horus’ master plan for the redevelopment of the gas plant district and adjoining parcels | Baker Barrios Architects

The newly named partners include general contractor Moss Construction, which recently acquired Ellison Construction, technical consultant Jacobs, and Kimley-Horn as the planner overseeing infrastructure planning, transportation, utilities, and site engineering.

Additionally, St. Petersburg Housing Authority has signed a letter of interest to work with ARK Ellison Horus on programs that expand access to affordable rental housing for seniors, veterans, and residents within the district.

The Pinellas County Housing Authority submitted a separate unsolicited proposal to build a senior housing tower on the Lot 3 parking lot at Tropicana Field, which it called complementary to the ARK Ellison Horus bid.

Also, Evara Health, a community-based organization providing affordable healthcare to low-income and uninsured individuals, has expressed interest to ARK Ellison Horus in operating a medical facility on the site.

Gas plant park, a public park dreamt up by the ark ellison horus team | Baker Barrios Architects

“This level of interest reinforces the strength of the proposal and the seriousness of our commitment to getting this right,” Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Development, said in a January 12th release.

“From day one, our focus has been on assembling the very best partners to help bring the full Gas Plant district vision to life. These are well-known, trusted companies with deep experience delivering complex, transformative projects.”

Meanwhile, Thompson Whitney Blake, who in March 2025 offered $260 million in cash to purchase the entire Gas Plant site, also announced he was bolstering his roster of partners.

Blake’s proposal, which has not yet been fully revealed, is named St. Petersburg 3.0 and will include a hotel, condominiums, offices with retail, a city park, and a mix of housing with a large emphasis on affordable and workforce housing.

A previous aerial site plan | blake investment partners

Helping spearhead those efforts, he is joining forces with affordable housing developer Blue Sky Communities and multifamily developer Greystar Real Estate Partners.

Blue Sky has delivered several affordable housing developments across St. Pete, such as Skyway Lofts I and II and Bear Creek Commons, among others.

Locally, Greystar is behind several notable projects, including Ascent, AC Marriott St. Petersburg Downtown, Marlowe Gateway Apartments, and Gateway Logistics Center.

Blake is also partnering with Greystar to develop The Henry, a five-story, 325-unit apartment community currently under construction as part of the Whitney Village project at the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA campus.

A rendering of the henry at whitney village | FK Architecture

“Our collaboration with Blake Investment Partners has been defined by trust and a shared vision for the Grand Central District and St. Petersburg,” David King, managing director of development for Greystar, said in the January 16th announcement.

“Following the success of our initial YMCA project, we are excited to support the Blake team on this proposal and look forward to being part of this important and historic redevelopment.”

Immediately after announcing Greystar as a partner, design and engineering consultant Stantec said it would also join Blake as part of its bid.

Blake also confirmed Langan Engineering and Environmental Services Inc., which specializes in geotechnical, civil, and environmental engineering work, and Wade Trim Inc., which brings almost a century of experience in municipal infrastructure and civil engineering.

Additional team announcements are expected in the coming weeks.