Public input sought for community benefits in Historic Gas Plant redevelopment
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Dec 8, 2023

St. Petersburg is asking residents to weigh in on community benefits for the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment project.

The proposal from the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston-based development firm Hines for the development of the 86 acres in downtown St. Pete includes a $50 million commitment to “intentional equity.” In January, the Community Benefits Advisory Council will begin its project review to “advise Mayor Kenneth T. Welch, City Council, and the citizens of St. Pete on the community benefits” associated with the project.

During those CBAC meetings, the public will have the opportunity to comment and share their opinion on the proposed benefits.

The meetings will be:

Jan. 9

Jan. 16

Jan 23

Jan. 30

The city is hosting a Community Benefits Information Session at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 at The Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, to bring the public up to speed on what is being proposed in the transformative project. During the meeting, Hines/Rays team members will detail their plan. According to the city, “details on how the public will be able to provide their input on this portion of the project are forthcoming.”

Some of the proposed community benefits for the project include affordable and workforce housing, public open space, sustainability, public parking, transportation improvements, small-, minority- and women-owned business participation, and a $50 million intentional equity commitment, according to the city.

The $50 million intentional equity commitment will include:

$17.5 million dedicated to supporting “currently operating educational programs in South St. Petersburg.” This also includes building a new Booker Music Hall venue and a new Woodson African American Museum.

$15 million dedicated to existing St. Pete programs that “support housing opportunities at a wide range of affordability levels”

$13 million dedicated to supporting “business incubation, ownership and placement opportunities on the site, with a focus on minority/women-owned businesses and current South St. Petersburg residents and businesses”