Pinellas County Urban League has proposed the Sankofa Empowerment Center, a two-story, 28,000-square-foot mixed-use building in South St. Pete | PCUL

An undeveloped stretch of city-owned land along 22nd Street South could soon become a new hub for business and community in south St. Pete.

The Pinellas County Urban League has submitted an unsolicited proposal to the City of St. Petersburg outlining a plan for the city to develop the property on the Deuces between 6th Avenue South and Fairfield Avenue South, with the organization serving as the anchor tenant and operator.

The plan calls for the construction of a two-story, 28,000-square-foot mixed-use building called the Sankofa Empowerment Center, which would bring together a mix of office, retail, food service, and co-working space, along with an incubator-style environment aimed at supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.

A 6,000-square-foot rooftop terrace would serve as an event space, designed to host programming and gatherings throughout the year.

The Urban League would relocate its headquarters from 333 31st Street North in Kenwood to 3,000 square feet on the second floor, bringing its $8 million annual operations and approximately 50 community events per year to the Deuces corridor.

The Pinellas County Urban League’s current headquarters at 333 31st Street North in Kenwood | Google Maps

The organization says the project would also serve as a center for job training, financial empowerment programs, and business development resources.

The proposal, developed in partnership with law firm Gunster and local general contractor Modo Construction, has already drawn interest from the local business community, with more than 75 entrepreneurs expressing interest in leasing space at the site, according to the Urban League.

The proposal fits into Phase II of the city’s broader Deuces Rising plan, which is focused on revitalizing the historic African American business district along 22nd Street South.

Phase I of that effort is already underway, with the Deuces Townhomes, a 24-unit mixed-income housing development, currently under construction along Fairfield Avenue.

Under the terms outlined in the proposal, the project would be structured as a public-private partnership, with the City of St. Petersburg responsible for constructing and owning the building.

Floor plans for the Sankofa Empowerment Center, a proposed development by the Pinellas County Urban League on 22nd Street South | PCUL

The Pinellas County Urban League would then lease and operate the facility as the anchor tenant, with an option to purchase the property in the future.

Conceptual plans show the ground floor and portions of the second floor dedicated to leasable commercial space, including both traditional and smaller-format offices, retail storefronts, and shared workspaces.

The project is intended to lower barriers to entry for small businesses while also increasing foot traffic along the corridor.

If built, the center would anchor the next phase of redevelopment on the Deuces, with a third phase of the city’s plan calling for an additional commercial building and residential units on adjacent land.

The City of St. Petersburg’s Deuces Rising plan, including the Deuces Townhomes (yellow), PCUL’s proposed building (blue), and a future mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial space and second-floor residential (red) | City of St. Pete

The proposal also envisions the building serving as a resiliency and recovery center, supporting the community’s readiness and recovery from disasters and emergencies.

The city’s willingness to move forward with the Urban League’s proposal has triggered a formal Notice of Intent to Dispose of City-Owned Real Estate, opening the door for other groups to submit competing proposals.

Interested parties have until April 14th at 10 a.m. to respond.

Following that process, the mayor is expected to recommend a proposal to City Council for approval.