An aerial photo from last year shows the Commerce Park property just south of the Deuces Rising townhomes, which are nearing completion | Dallas 1 Construction and Development

The City of St. Pete is taking another run at redeveloping a stretch of land along 22nd Street South.

On April 6th, the city issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Commerce Park site, a roughly 3.03-acre collection of 19 city-owned parcels just north of Interstate 275 in the Deuces corridor.

The land, directly across from the Manhattan Casino, is appraised for around $4.5 million and has been the subject of multiple redevelopment plans over the past two decades, none of which have fully panned out.

City officials are now looking for a mixed-use project that activates 22nd Street South through commercial and retail uses, provides mixed-income housing with both rental and homeownership opportunities, and maximizes allowable density.

When the land was first assembled starting in 2007 under the administration of Rick Baker, the goal was to create a manufacturing and industrial hub that would generate jobs in South St. Pete.

The city spent years buying up parcels along the corridor with the idea of attracting employers and building out an employment center.

Then the Great Recession hit, and things stalled.

The City of St. Pete is soliciting proposals for the development of a three-acre property on the Deuces in south St. Pete | Google Maps

The site sat idle for years before the city made another push under Rick Kriseman, this time partnering with St. Petersburg Commerce Park LLC, a group that included Tom Callahan, Robert Kapusta, and Kevin Wojtowicz.

The plan was to bring in a manufacturing facility for EMP Industries along with a motorcycle dealership operated by Euro Cycles of Tampa Bay.

Construction actually started in 2018, but the project never really got off the ground. The jobs didn’t materialize, and parts of the site ended up tied up in a deal the City later had to unwind.

Euro Cycles eventually gave its parcel back, and the City sold off a rear portion of the property for about $1.025 million.

From there, the site became part of the “Deuces Rising” initiative, which focused more on housing, retail, and reinvestment along the 22nd Street corridor.

At one point, the City also lined up the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum of Florida as a potential anchor for the site, with plans for a new, larger facility.

That concept ultimately moved in a different direction, leaving Commerce Park without a clear centerpiece again.

the city is looking for a group to redevelop A three-acre, city-owned site in south St. Pete | Google Maps

Today, instead of chasing a single-use industrial project or relying on one major anchor, the city is leaning into a more flexible, mixed-use plan.

The city is seeking proposals that maximize what can be built within the site’s Corridor Commercial Traditional-1 (CCT-1) zoning district.

Proposals should also honor the community’s heritage and promote equitable partnerships, including opportunities for small, minority-, and women-owned businesses.

Developers are encouraged to submit a full plan, including site design, financials, timeline, and a track record of delivering similar projects.

The City has also made it clear they want someone who can move forward “immediately upon award.”

The Mayor will make the final selection, with City Council signing off on any eventual agreement.

Meanwhile, the area around the site is starting to see some momentum.

The Deuces Rising Townhomes are nearing completion nearby, and the Manhattan Casino is expected to reopen later this year following a major renovation.

Proposals for the Commerce Park RFP must be submitted by May 22nd at 10 a.m. Questions from proposers are due by May 6th.

The full RFP can be viewed on the city’s website.