Officials receive funding request for African American museum in the Gas Plant district
By Henry Queen
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jul 17, 2024

An African American museum in St. Petersburg's Historic Gas Plant district is seeking tourist tax dollars to help with its construction costs.

The Pinellas County Tourist Development Council on Wednesday heard a list of capital funding requests totaling roughly $67 million, including a $10 million request to fund the new home of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum next to the planned Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

The museum is currently located in a 4,000-square-foot former community center in South St. Pete. At first, it planned to build its new building — renamed the Woodson African American Museum of Florida — on 22nd Street South in the Deuces neighborhood. The project was then folded into the redevelopment plan for the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant site. St. Pete City Council will vote on the redevelopment on Thursday.

The Rays committed $10 million to the museum, provided certain funding and timeline requirements are met. If construction has not begun within 15 years, the developer must propose another community benefit, subject to council approval.

With this request for Tourist Development Tax dollars, the museum is looking to build it sooner than that anyway. Kylie Diaz, vice president of community engagement for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, said projects funded through these requests are expected to be finished in about three years.

"Their hope ... is to put a shovel in the ground during phase one and open along with the stadium in 2028," St. Pete councilmember Copley Gerdes said on Wednesday.

Visit St. Pete-Clearwater President and CEO Brian Lowack said the organization has about $115 million in capital reserves to pull from. The $67 million in requests will likely be whittled down before a final vote from the Board of County Commissions in October. Other requests include:

Morean Arts Center and Chihuly Collection: $15.1 million for the construction of a 5-story building to house an expanded collection

Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina: $10 million for repairs

Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater: $10 million for upgrades

Clearwater Museum Aquarium: $9.8 million to remodel the facility designated for incoming sea lions

Florida Orchestra: $9.5 million for the construction of a new Center for Music Education & Innovation

Palladium Theatre: $2.5 million for the renovation of the 800-seat hall

Executive Director Paul Wilborn told TDC members that the Palladium has over $1 million in state funds and private pledges of about $6 million for its project. The city has also pledged a minimum of $1 million over four years.