Tampa Bay Rays stadium development: New district renderings released as city vote stalls plan
Uncertainty surrounding Rays discussions with city
The Tampa Bay Rays have revealed plans for a mixed-use development that will surround the proposed stadium on Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus. FOX 13's Aaron Mesmer reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays have revealed plans for a mixed-use development that will surround the proposed stadium on Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus.
Rays stadium development plan
By the numbers:
The Rays released new renderings of a 100-acre, multi-level project divided into smaller districts. Plans feature ground-floor retail shops, dining, hotel space, residential space, office space and public green space.
PREVIOUS: Tampa Bay Rays reveal first look inside proposed new stadium
The team's ownership says the overall development would generate nearly 12,000 permanent jobs in the area.
Courtesy: Tampa Bay Rays
Under the non-binding agreement, the Rays are asking the city of Tampa to invest about $180 million in sales tax and CRA funds, and Hillsborough County to invest about $796 million.
Tampa City Council vote
What we know:
On Thursday, Tampa City Council posed new hurdles for the deal. In a 5 to 2 vote, the board of Tampa's Community Redevelopment Agency voted to remove the stadium agreement discussion from its August meeting agenda.
Council members said they want the Rays' leadership to negotiate with each of them.
Later Thursday night, Tampa City Council voted 4 to 3 against transmitting an amendment regarding future land use for Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus property to Tallahassee for review.
Mayor, city council react to vote
What they're saying:
"I'm not even transmitting this because I don't think it's the right thing to do, so I think it's a waste of time to send it to the state if I'm just going to vote against it," Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak said.
Some council members noted that a transmittal is not a final vote on future property plans, and that they typically pass.
"These things usually just go through without even blinking an eye, because it's just a transmittal hearing to ask Tallahassee to comment on the plan, so that's what we're doing tonight," Councilman Alan Clendenin said. "This is not the meat, it's just a technical procedure."
Clendenin says this might be the first time they haven't transmitted an item.
Rays CEO Ken Babby previously expressed optimism about negotiations with local leaders. Earlier this month, he said he's been in ongoing conversations with city and county leaders.
On Friday morning, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor called the council's decision "beyond frustrating." Here's the full statement she posted to social media:
"It's beyond frustrating that as city and county leaders are working tirelessly to hammer out an equitable deal to bring the Rays to Tampa, City Council members want to halt our efforts in their tracks. Some of them clearly are intent on killing the Rays plan even before negotiations are done, and an agreement is ready for review. It defies common sense that City Council members would prefer to have no say in the benefits a Tampa Rays project would bring to our city, and instead punt it to the county to work out."
The other side:
According to reports, Rays CEO Ken Babby has said the project could still move forward even without the land-use vote and potentially without full participation from the city.
Councilman Bill Carlson also posted on social media that he spoke with Babby, who plans to meet individually with each council member to hear their concerns about the proposal.
Big picture view:
FOX 13 Political Editor Craig Patrick said the council's actions do not necessarily end negotiations.
"[It] doesn't mean the rest of it can't proceed," Patrick said. "There still can be negotiations. There still could be movement in that direction, but that one procedural step is held up."
Patrick also said the votes suggest some council members want a larger role in negotiations.
"Perhaps they want to be more involved in the negotiations than they presently are with a feeling that the team is talking more to the mayor and administration than they are to the individual council members who will make the ultimate decision," Patrick said.
Future of Tampa ballpark
What we don't know:
It remains unclear whether the Rays and city leaders can reach an agreement that satisfies a majority of the City Council.
Questions also remain about whether the financing structure, land-use proposal or other elements of the project could change as negotiations continue.
The Source: The information in this story comes from newly released Tampa Bay Rays stadium renderings, Tampa City Council and Community Redevelopment Agency meetings, public statements from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, comments from Council Chair Alan Clendenin and Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak, analysis from FOX 13 Political Editor Craig Patrick and statements attributed to Rays CEO Ken Babby and Councilman Bill Carlson.