This week is crucial for the redevelopment efforts of the Gas Plant district in St. Petersburg and the potential replacement of Tropicana Field.
Several meetings are scheduled to take place:
The first meeting is a town hall on Tuesday at the Sunshine Center. Following that, there will be a Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday. A final decision by council members regarding the redevelopment is scheduled for July 11.
The town hall meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11, at the Sunshine Center at 6 p.m. Those interested can find a registration and survey form online. On Wednesday, June 12, the St. Petersburg City Council will conduct a Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss the Stadium Agreements for the Historic Gas Plant District Development at 9 a.m. in St. Petersburg City Hall Room 100. Due to limited seating, the public is encouraged to watch the meeting live on SPTV or on Spectrum channel 641.
Additionally, on Thursday, June 13, the St. Petersburg City Council will have their first reading on an agreement that lays the groundwork for the Historic Gas Plant redevelopment deal and rezoning.
Residents like Ryan Kessler, a St. Pete local, have expressed their support for the redevelopment efforts. Kessler mentioned that Tropicana Field is one of his favorite areas and highlighted the importance of community support for local teams. He spent time fundraising for his son’s baseball team and is looking forward to the outcomes of the upcoming meetings. Kessler finds it exciting to see the renderings and ideas for the surrounding area.
However, not everyone is on board with the proposed stadium. An organization called NoHomeRun is against the proposal, citing concerns about the deal being unfair to taxpayers due to the Rays’ rent and the plan to buy development rights below market value.
The final decision by the St. Petersburg City Council regarding the potential redevelopment is expected to take place on July 11. As the discussions and meetings progress, the future of the Gas Plant district and Tropicana Field remains a topic of interest and debate among residents and stakeholders.