St. Pete to invite new proposals for redevelopment of Historic Gas Plant District
/The City of St. Petersburg is once again preparing to solicit proposals for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete, the same site where the Tampa Bay Rays’ future stadium and a new mixed-use district have long been envisioned.
This morning, the City announced plans to publish a notice in mid-November inviting private developers and other interested parties to submit proposals within 30 days for the site’s redevelopment.
The move follows an unsolicited proposal submitted earlier this month by a development team led by Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Companies; Cathie Wood, founder of global investment firm ARK Invest; and Jonathan Graham, president of Horus Construction.
Their 98-page, $6.8 billion proposal outlines a sweeping vision for a new mixed-use district anchored by innovation, housing, cultural institutions, and world-class event venues spanning 95.5 acres of downtown St. Petersburg, including the Historic Gas Plant District.
Additionally, the city received another unsolicited proposal from the Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA), in partnership with developer John Barkett of Ascension Real Estate Partners, to redevelop and purchase the city-owned parking lot at 1659 3rd Avenue South, which is used for Tampa Bay Rays games.
Their plan calls for a seven-story, 80-unit apartment building designed to provide housing for low-income seniors with preference given to those who previously resided in the Historic Gas Plant District.
Under Florida law, if a local government receives an unsolicited proposal and wishes to explore it further, it must first open the process to competition by publishing a public notice and allowing other parties the opportunity to submit proposals for the lease, purchase, or development of all or part of the property.
“Honoring the promises made to our community, including the residents of the Historic Gas Plant District, has been a top priority of my administration,” said Mayor Ken Welch in a statement.
“We continue to explore ways to pursue impactful outcomes that reflect the needs and aspirations of our residents. I intend to ensure that any redevelopment reflects the values and priorities of our entire community — honoring our history while creating pathways for inclusive progress and a thriving future for all in our city.”
In the city’s 2022 Request for Proposals (RFP), developers had 88 days to submit proposals; this time, the window for competing submissions is just 30 days.
Qualified submissions will be reviewed by city administration and presented to the St. Petersburg City Council for consideration and approval.
Developers or organizations interested in submitting a proposal may contact the City’s Real Estate and Property Management Department at business@stpete.org for additional information.
