News Summary
St. Petersburg is set to begin a 30-day proposal invitation for redeveloping the Historic Gas Plant District in mid-November. Following requests for an extension from developers, this process aims to generate innovative proposals to revive the long-neglected site. Mayor Ken Welch is committed to ensuring the redevelopment caters to community needs. With the development community eager to submit proposals, the city looks to implement a structured approach that ensures effective outcomes.
St. Petersburg is set to officially invite redevelopment proposals for the Historic Gas Plant District starting in mid-November, following a recent request from a prominent development firm for a 90-day extension to submit its proposals. This upcoming period will last for only 30 days, during which many are hopeful to see competitive and innovative ideas for the area’s redevelopment.
Mayor Ken Welch announced plans to start this new proposal process amid growing interest from developers, marked by unsolicited proposals aimed at revitalizing the long-abandoned site. The development community, particularly Kolter’s president Troy Simpson, has advocated for this extension, emphasizing that a project of this magnitude necessitates adequate time for thorough evaluation. Because previous unsolicited proposals did not activate the formal request process, this announcement signifies a structured approach to identifying the best possible developments for the site.
Florida law requires at least 30 days’ notification before local governments can sell or lease property located in Community Redevelopment Areas. To comply with these regulations, the city has established a clear framework for gathering proposals, as previous attempts to gauge public interest led to ineffective outcomes. Supporters of the project aim to prevent the issues faced during prior requests for proposals for the adjacent Tropicana Field site, which received longer submission windows that allowed more public discussion and stakeholder input.
Kolter has a history of development projects in St. Petersburg, having successfully built three luxury condo towers—ONE St. Petersburg, Saltaire, and Art House. Their ongoing involvement has raised expectations for upcoming projects, especially after city council members approved a land use change on October 16 to allow the possibility of 776 housing units at St. Petersburg College’s Allstate campus. This approval reflects the city council’s commitment to addressing housing needs while considering the overall development strategy for the Historic Gas Plant District.
The revitalization efforts commenced under former Mayor Rick Kriseman, who initiated a six-month RFP process back in July 2020. Midtown Development was subsequently selected as a partner. However, the redevelopment landscape shifted considerably when the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines opted out of a $6.5 billion deal, prompting Mayor Ken Welch to issue a new 90-day window in September 2022 to re-engage potential developers.
As of October 3, a new unsolicited proposal valued at $6.8 billion was submitted by ARK Investment Management, Ellison Development, and Horus Construction, igniting further interest and urgency in the redevelopment process. Council Chair Copley Gerdes stressed the importance of moving forward with proposals, indicating that many stakeholders are looking to fulfill promises related to this redevelopment.
With the impending invitation for proposals, the city aims to foster a competitive environment that encourages developers to present their best ideas, while strictly adhering to the regulations outlined in Florida Statute 163.380 regarding property disposal in redevelopment areas. Despite the tight 30-day timeline set to receive proposals, city council members have expressed the need for swift and intentional action to guide the land’s future use and value effectively.
Mayor Welch reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the redevelopment meets the needs of the community, especially for the residents displaced over 40 years ago due to prior developments in that area. The upcoming proposal process is viewed as a chance to draw in never-before-seen concepts and allows sufficient time for developers who have remained inactive to prepare adequately for submission.
The city is also considering hiring a third party to assess the redevelopment site’s potential before any proposals are formally received. Interested developers may reach out to the city’s Real Estate and Property Management Department for further details regarding the submission process.
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Additional Resources
- St. Pete Rising
- Google Search: St Petersburg Gas Plant District redevelopment
- Fox 13 News
- Wikipedia: St. Petersburg, Florida
- Patch
- Encyclopedia Britannica: St Petersburg, Florida
- TBB Business Journal
- Google News: Gas Plant District
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