Renderings reveal what the Woodson African American Museum could become in St. Pete
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The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, currently located at 2240 9th Avenue South, has unveiled a bold vision for a new home designed to honor the past, inspire the future, and serve as a cultural anchor for St. Pete.
The new 40,000-square-foot museum concept, designed by Everald Colas of St. Pete-based Storyn Studio for Architecture, is envisioned for the corner of 15th Street and 1st Avenue South, currently Lot 5 of Tropicana Field and across from Fusion 1560.
As striking as the renderings are, the proposed design faces major hurdles, including securing a site for the new museum and reaching ambitious fundraising goals.
The property was previously part of the Rays/Hines redevelopment plans for the Historic Gas Plant District, which was officially scrapped in July.
When the Rays walked away, they relinquished their development rights to the land, enabling the city to redevelop portions of the site before the end of the team’s use agreement.
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In late January, pottery artist Beth Miranda woke up before sunrise to a devastating call from her business partner, Ethan Fielder.
Their community studio, St. Pete Ceramics, was engulfed in flames.
The fire tore through much of the interior, including walls, shelving, tables, stools, and other equipment. Two rabbits that lived at the studio also died.
Miranda arrived at the studio, which is located at 593 22nd Street South in the Warehouse Arts District, around 5:15 a.m. after calling her husband in Philadelphia and taking a moment to process what she had just learned.
“I got here and dealt with everything. Then I sent a text to friends in the local clay community and said, ‘Guys, I just need prayer. This is happening,’” Miranda said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.
Fellow artists arrived with bagels, coffee, pizza, gloves, and a willingness to help however they could. Within roughly 36 hours, volunteers had helped empty and clean out the fire-damaged studio.