St. Pete selects developers with affordable housing plans for Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch announced Thursday that the city has selected two local developer partnerships to move forward with the long-awaited redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District, calling the decision the beginning of a new chapter after decades of waiting.

"Today we begin to answer the call for progress," Welch said during a press conference at Campbell Park. "It's been four decades, and it's time to move forward."

Welch said that Thursday's announcement is a proposal selection, not a final development agreement. Negotiations will now begin, with term sheets and future agreements ultimately requiring further approval, including from the St. Pete City Council.

"The Historic Gas Plant District has held the promise of progress for St. Petersburg for decades, and today we take an important step forward in turning potential into real, tangible progress," Welch said. "As we enter the next chapter for the Historic Gas Plant District, I want to thank every development team for submitting intentional and thoughtful proposals. The quality of competition made this a better process and allowed us to re-envision the potential opportunities for this land. I also want to recognize our city team for their consistent hard work, dedication, and commitment to getting this project right. And finally, I want to thank our residents for continuing to show up and hold us accountable when it matters most. Together, we are St. Pete."

Welch said both winning development bids offer JHOP, an acronym he uses that refers to jobs, housing, economic activity and honoring the promise and opportunity for the Gas Plant neighborhood.

St. Pete Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment

What we know:

Welch announced the city intends to move forward with two St. Petersburg-based development partnerships:

• The Burg Bid, led by Blake Investment Partners and Related Group, for the redevelopment and construction of thousands of affordable workforce housing units within the Historic Gas Plant District and the city of St. Pete.
• The Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA) for a separate affordable senior housing project on city-owned property at 1659 3rd Avenue South. The plan will offer preference for displaced Historic Gas Plant District residents to return and live in the area.

Welch described both teams as hometown partners with the vision needed to transform the historic site.

Under the proposal, The Burg Bid plans to develop more than 3,600 affordable and workforce housing units throughout the Historic Gas Plant District and elsewhere in St. Petersburg.

"This community has been waiting 40 years for a promise to be kept," Thompson Whitney Blake of Blake Investment Partners said. "We are grateful, and we are just getting started."

Developers said construction could begin after lease agreements receive the necessary approvals.

Affordable housing projects

What they're saying:

Welch said the PCHA’s proposal will move ahead on a faster timeline than the larger redevelopment project.

PCHA Executive Director Neil Brickfield said the authority made an unsolicited proposal to purchase and redevelop the city-owned parking lot at 1659 3rd Ave. S.

The project calls for:

• Brickfield said there will be 94 affordable senior housing units. The project proposal includes a seven-story, 80-unit affordable senior housing community.
• Estimated rents of about $600 per month for qualifying residents
• Housing targeted to seniors meeting low or median income requirements

The development also includes opportunities intended to help displaced Historic Gas Plant District residents return to the neighborhood.

"Housing is a promise we keep," Brickfield said, adding that the project is about "restarting a neighborhood."

Brickfield called Thursday's announcement a turning point.

"This project went from 'if' to 'when,'" Brickfield said. "Our community keeps our promises."

Finalized agreement details

What we don't know:

While the city has selected the proposals, officials said no contracts have been finalized.

City council approval

What's next:

The city will now negotiate detailed development agreements before bringing the proposals before the city council for approval.

"Today the progress begins," Welch said.

The Burg Bid proposal will also go through the city’s Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) program. As part of that process, a Community Benefits Advisory Council Project Committee (CBAC) will be formed, and residents will have opportunities to provide input on the project’s proposed community benefits and potential impacts. That feedback will help shape the final agreements before they are presented to the city council for approval.

The PCHA proposal will not be required to go through the CBA process because the project is fully dedicated to affordable and workforce housing. However, the final agreement with PCHA will still require approval from the city council before it can move forward.

Tampa Bay Rays future at Tropicana Field 

Dig deeper:

Welch also addressed the future of the Tampa Bay Rays and Tropicana Field.

The mayor said St. Pete remains committed to honoring its agreement with the Rays through 2028. If the proposed new stadium in Hillsborough County does not move forward, Welch said the city would be open to discussing a one- or two-year extension if it makes sense for St. Pete.

Welch also said he expects the city to recover the majority of approximately $30 million in insurance and FEMA reimbursements related to repairs at Tropicana Field.

The long-term plan, Welch said, remains to eventually demolish and replace the stadium, with much of the reimbursement expected after 2030.

The Historic Gas Plant District has long been one of St. Pete's most significant redevelopment opportunities. The neighborhood was once a thriving Black community before residents were displaced during urban renewal and the construction of Tropicana Field.

Thursday's announcement marks the beginning of negotiations that city leaders hope will eventually transform the site while expanding affordable housing, creating economic opportunities and honoring commitments made to the former Gas Plant community.

St. Petersburg