Welch: No ‘high-rises, condos’ on Albert Whitted Airport site
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Feb 18, 2022

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch shared more of his vision for studying the future of the Albert Whitted Airport site to clear up rumors that it would pave the way for an expansion of downtown development.

From the steps of city hall on Friday, Welch frequently reiterated that the results would determine the best use for the property, and he does not have a specific agenda for the site. He did, however, make two topics clear: There will not be high-rise development on the property, and a potential stadium is on the table.

“One thing I have seen on social media that is absolutely not true is I certainly don’t envision any high-rises, condos, anything like that on that waterfront,” Welch said. “That’s not what this is about. I would look at some kind of passive use, extending the waterfront parks and then as you move east you’ve got more opportunity.”

Welch said there’s a chance the report will show the airport remains the best use for the 119 acres, however, other possibilities may soon be on the table and his administration wants to have the facts before they move forward.

The site has been discussed as a potential stadium site for years, even as far back as when Welch was a Pinellas County Commissioner from 2000 to 2020. Comparing the airport land to the 86-acre Tropicana Field site and its relationship to the community, Welch said his goal for both is not to fixate on finding a location for a stadium, but rather to build what’s best for the city-owned properties.

The announcement came as demand for real estate in downtown St. Petersburg continues to reach new heights. The airport, which sits on city-owned land along the downtown waterfront, is also operated by the city. It is the largest parcel of land in downtown St. Pete; the next largest is the Trop site.

The last time an economic study was done about the airport property was in 2018.

“Much has changed since then,” Welch said. “Our community along with the rest of the world has evolved through a global pandemic, our economy has changed significantly, and residents and visitors have reimagined their priorities for public land.”

No one has reached out with official requests for the site, however, Welch knows there are many eager to chime in once the study is complete.

Weeks after taking office, Welch tweeted he had “instructed staff to further study economic and community impacts at Albert Whitted Airport to better identify the best use for the site.” The initial announcement from Welch was quickly followed by a wave of interest. The airport opened in the 1920s and is used for private aviation. No commercial airline services are at the site.

There is no timeline in place to complete the study and Welch said they are in “no rush.” There will be public input opportunities, and residents will have to vote if the city wants to change the site.

The mayor chose to launch the study after realizing a master plan for the site was going before the city council. It is in line with his principle of informed decision-making and his promise to “look at every city function from the lens of business process improvement, equity and inclusive progress.”

“It troubles me when folks say, ‘You can’t talk about that,’” Welch said. “Well, we can talk about that. That’s public land and if you just continue to take federal money and lock it in for another generation, then it will be continued to be used that way. Let’s have the conversation about what the best path is for the entire community going forward.”