Historic Gas Plants | St. Pete Downtown Partnership

The Partnership can play a prominent role in support of this generational redevelopment opportunity. We have productive relationships with public officials, interest groups, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the development community and will deploy our political capital and urban development expertise to support the highest and best use of this site. We seek to support the Historic Gas Plant Development by working with community leaders to support a mixed-income, complete neighborhood in the historic Gas Plant redevelopment, anchored by a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Downtown Partnership Letter To the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners About Historic Gas Plant District

The deal is a good one for Pinellas County. Investment in the ballpark through heavily restricted tourism tax dollars will result in new additional sales and pr

December 16, 2024

Mayor Ken Welch headlined a much-anticipated St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership luncheon Wednesday. Photo by Mark Parker.

St. Pete mayor dishes on Rays, resilience at luncheon

We were honored to have Mayor Ken Welch join our members earlier this week for a thoughtful discussion answering their questions about the Cross-Bay Ferry, arts

December 12, 2024

Red Apple Group officials confirmed Tuesday that the firm is under contract to purchase property in St. Petersburg's Mirror Lake neighborhood entitled for a 23-story tower. Renderings: Haywood Development.

Red Apple under contract to buy Mirror Lake property

The developer behind the Residences at 400 Central, downtown St. Petersburg’s tallest building, plans to build a new tower overlooking nearby Mirrror Lake.

November 19, 2024

A new Tampa Bay Rays stadium would anchor the Historic Gas Plant District’s redevelopment. Rendering: Hines/Tampa Bay Rays.

Pinellas County and the Rays have a stadium standoff

Pinellas County commissioners delayed a critical vote Tuesday night just hours after the Tampa Bay Rays sent a somber letter stating the Commission’s previous i

November 20, 2024

Photo of Tropicana Field roof damage by Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays

Storm-impacted tourism taxes enter Rays stadium debate

Pinellas County officials have touted the local tourism industry’s resiliency amid back-to-back hurricanes. Recently released metrics underscore their point.

November 21, 2024

Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment rendering

Rays could leave St. Pete, regardless of bond votes

St. Petersburg is next at-bat to vote on a bond issuance to finance the city’s contribution to a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium. It might not matter.

November 21, 2024

Photo of Tropicana Field with damaged roof provided by Duke Energy

St. Petersburg has likely lost Major League Baseball

The Tampa Bay Rays have likely taken their last at-bat in St. Petersburg, a reality begrudgingly recognized Thursday night by the team’s most ardent supporters

November 22, 2024

Historic Gas Plant District rendering provided by Hines/Tampa Bay Rays

Here’s why the St. Pete Downtown Partnership supports the Rays/Hines stadium deal

The Historic Gas Plant District deserves a master planned, mixed income, complete neighborhood that can be a global example of smart urban design.

July 7, 2024

Tampa Bay Rays Here To Stay Press Conference

For Rays’ partner Hines, $6.5B stadium development will be ‘transformative’

Hines is working alongside the Rays to lead a monumental 20-year, $6.5 billion plan for a stadium and mixed-use development on the Trop site.

October 10, 2023

Stu Sternberg announcing that the Rays will stay in Downtown St. Pete

For the Rays, St. Petersburg never seemed like the answer. What changed?

The Rays consider DTSP after 16 years, now that St. Petersburg has become a staple destination for arts and dining, featuring new, high-end buildings.

September 25, 2023

St. Pete City Council pushes back on outside consultant on Trop selection

Debate over how to redevelop Tropicana Field causes tensions, especially in the topic of utilizing outside expertise to guide the situation.

January 25, 2021

Seven proposals revealed for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Tropicana Field site

The City of St. Peter and Mayor Kriseman released 7 submissions of the Request for Proposal for the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site in downtown.

February 1, 2021

Proposal drawing of one of the proposed Tropicana Re-developments

Three Trop site proposals out of the running as city narrows list

The City of St. Petersburg has shortlisted four proposals for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Tropicana Field site.

March 8, 2021

Rainbow City of St. Pete flag in front of Tropicana Field

Tropicana Field Site - Public Comment

There are currently three ways for residents to provide input regarding the proposals leading up to the final development partner being selected.

March 30, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays will meet with community stakeholders to talk Trop site redevelopment, City Council member says

While reviewing the Tropicana Field redevelopment process, an off-hand remark by St. Peter City Council member Deborah Figgs-Sanders redirects the conversation.

March 30, 2021

Community Voices: Downtown Partnership supports engaging outside development counsel for Trop

The Partnership spoke out about need for more resources to support the City of St. Pete in efforts to find and negotiate with a development partner on the Trop.

April 19, 2021

City releases appraisals for Trop site

The Tropicana Field site has an estimated market value ranging from $66 million to $277.4 million, according to three appraisals on the property.

April 19, 2021

City Council wants to ‘hit the pause button’ on Trop redevelopment and work with the Rays

The St. Petersburg City Council wants to work with the Tampa Bay Rays on the future of the Tropicana Field site.

April 19, 2021

St. Pete Downtown Partnership's Tropicana Field Redevelopment Recommendations

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership appreciates the opportunity to provide recommendations and suggestions as the City pursues the redevelopment of the Trop

May 12, 2021

Kriseman to trim Trop redevelopment shortlist to two

Mayor Rick Kriseman is set to whittle down the field of Tropicana Field redevelopment proposals from four to two.

May 27, 2021

Rays lawsuit impacts plans for talks between city, county, team

Pinellas County & City of St. Pete are holding on the process to hire a consultant to negotiate with the TB Rays on what could be the future of the team.

May 27, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays flag on the side of a field with cones

St. Petersburg business leaders urge Kriseman to keep working with Rays

City business leaders sent a letter to Rick Kriseman imploring him to resume working with the Tampa Bay Rays on a deal that would keep the team in St. Pete.

May 28, 2021

Tropicana Field Redevelopment Partners Shortlisted To Two

The City of St. Petersburg has announced a 2 firms that remain in the running to become the development partner for the Tropicana Field Redevelopment.

May 28, 2021

St. Pete Downtown Partnership CEO Sees New Chapter Ahead

Tropicana Field site redevelopment, marine science, art and commercial real estate are on the agenda for the SPDP. Read more on our blog!

December 18, 2018

How Long to Redevelop the Rays’ Home Turf in St. Petersburg? Mayor Kriseman Won’t Say

The future of the Rays' home in downtown St. Pete remains uncertain, yet Mayor Rick Kriseman says development can begin anyway. So when will it start?

March 8, 2020

City Releases RFP To Develop Tropicana Field Site

The City of St. Pete has dedicated a minimum of $75mil for infrastructure development of the Tropicana Field site with plans to partner with a development team.

July 28, 2020

St. Pete 2.0: Imagining the New Tropicana Field Site [Survey]

The planned redevelopment of the 86-acre Tropicana Field site hit a milestone in July when the City issued a request for proposals to find a master developer.

July 30, 2020

St. Pete 2.0 Results: Imagining the new Tropicana Field site

We used the forum of St. Pete 2.0 to get a sense of what’s most important to the community as the Tropicana Field site is redeveloped.

August 19, 2020

Trop Redevelopment Will Live Up to Promises to Black Community, City Leaders Say

City leaders emphasize promises to the Black Community to ensure their wellbeing and opportunities as the Trop redevelopment project take way.

December 11, 2020

Mayor Welch Highlights Progress and Priorities After 100 Days in Office

On Friday, Mayor Kenneth T. Welch celebrated his 100th day in office. The milestone is an opportunity for him to reflect, evaluate, and look forward.

April 18, 2022

Community Benefit Commitments of the Two Finalist Developers for Tropicana Field

The Tropicana Field redevelopment project marks the 1st time in the history of St. Petersburg that race equity was a required focal point of a major development

June 14, 2022

Mayor giving press conference in front of Tropicana Field

Partnership Recommendations for Historic Gas Plant District Redevelopment

SPDP recognizes the unique characteristic of the Historic Gas Plant District site to transform our urban center and expand prosperity to the entire community.

January 13, 2023

Endorsements of Tropicana Field Redevelopment Plans Sent to St. Pete City Hall

Endorsements and letters of recommendation are trickling in about which team the city should pick to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant district, home to the Trop

January 17, 2023

Downtown St. Pete skyline showing Tropicana field in the early evening

St. Petersburg Bets on Affordable Housing at the Trop. Can it Deliver?

Mayor Ken Welch ripped up his predecessor’s plans for the Trop site and prioritize affordable housing for the historic Gas Plant district.

January 18, 2023

The rainbow City of St. Pete flag in front of Tropicana Field

Rays Have a Developer and a Plan For a Stadium. Do They Have a Partner in St. Pete?

It’s decision time in the city. The same momentous, once-in-a-lifetime decision that keeps playing round and round in these parts.

January 30, 2023

Partnership Statement of Support For the Gas Plant Redevelopment Plans

We appreciate the approach Mayor Welch used to make this decision. The Hines-Rays team has the means to deliver and honor the history of the site.

January 30, 2023