SPDP News | St. Pete Downtown Partnership

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

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership’s latest monthly event focused on the city’s efforts to assist homeless residents and the effects of House Bill 1365.

Developers, city officials discuss new homeless challenges

A seemingly increasing homeless population is affecting condominium sales in St. Petersburg. However, new state legislation banning public “camping” contradicts

March 27, 2024

A rendering of the Reflection condominium tower shows an expansive tile mosaic. Its developers have instead selected a prominent artist to create a four-story mural. Image: HP Capital.

Developers secure ‘world-renowned’ muralist for Mirror Lake tower

The local developers behind an 18-story luxury condominium tower plan to elevate St. Petersburg’s reputation as a city that proudly promotes the arts.

April 25, 2024

More than 100 people attended an event Wednesday hosted by the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital titled “Community Solutions for Unhoused Neighbors.” Photos: Ashley Morales.

Local leaders discuss solutions for city’s unhoused

Recognizing the need to address homelessness in the community, the St Petersburg Downtown Partnership convened a “leadership lunch” Wednesday

June 5, 2024

Chris Ballestra, managing director of development, discussed the southern waterfront's future Tuesday with the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

What’s next for St. Pete’s downtown waterfront?

City officials are asking stakeholders to help reimagine a downtown St. Petersburg waterfront with new and enhanced arts institutions.

August 28, 2024

Report: How St. Pete is meeting housing, office demands

St. Petersburg is experiencing unprecedented residential construction and low office vacancy rates as it continues to be among the top corporate relocation dest

February 28, 2023

St. Petersburg developers and downtown stakeholders meet to learn more about the Atlanta BeltLine

Is Atlanta’s BeltLine a model for local success?

St. Petersburg developers and downtown stakeholders now wonder if they can apply the Atlanta’s BeltLine’s most successful aspects to the Pinellas Trail

October 25, 2023

Community leaders visit Atlanta, Georgia

Local leaders glean insight from Atlanta developments

Nearly two dozen civic and business leaders recently toured The Battery Atlanta, Truist Park and the Atlanta Beltline

November 29, 2023

Construction equipment, photo by City of St. Petersburg

City officials work to alleviate permitting backlogs

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership enlisted Abernethy to provide permitting process insight in a Dec. 14 webinar.

December 15, 2023

A rendering of The Nolen. Image: DDA Development.

Will St. Petersburg see more ‘boutique’ condo towers?

Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, called boutique towers like the Nolen “a labor of love.”

January 2, 2024

Mayor Welch speaking at the 2024 Downtown Development Summit

July '24 Work Plan Update

Thanks to support from our members and board, we are making significant progress on the priorities we identified in our 2024 Work Plan.

July 11, 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

City representatives present on the city’s efforts to assist unhoused residents and the effects of the recently signed law taking effect Oct. 1, House Bill 1365.

Developer's Council: Resources for Downtown's Unhoused Community

At our last Developer's Council meeting, we focused on the city’s efforts to assist unhoused residents and the effects of the recently signed law taking effect

April 3, 2024

Will Conroy teaching the inaugural Commercial Real Estate Development 101 bootcamp with more than 30 students

St. Pete College Commercial Real Estate Course

This year, St. Petersburg College (SPC) hosted the inaugural Commercial Real Estate Development 101 bootcamp with more than 30 students. This new project was in

April 3, 2024

2024 Downtown Development Summit Presentations

Please click the links below to view the presentations that were shown at the 2024 Downtown Development Summit.

February 27, 2024

Monica Kile historian and tour guide with I Love the Burg, believes preservationists and developers could achieve similar goals through better dialogue and increased incentives.

Developer's Council Recap: Can preservation and development offer mutual benefits?

Earlier this week, we were joined by our friend and local historian, Monica Kile, to take a trolley tour of St. Pete, highlighting historic properties that are

December 1, 2023

Development stakeholders hear the power of partnerships

A group of national experts from WSP urged local developers to form partnerships long before breaking ground when seeking project funding.

September 28, 2023

Will increased density allowances bring more development?

Community members discussed proposed land use changes around the region’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) service, the SunRunner.

August 30, 2023

Jason Mathis sharing a presentation on the Downtown Improvement District to the Developer's Council

Does St. Pete need a downtown improvement district?

St. Pete Downtown Partnership is researching the potential creation of a Special Assessment Area/Downtown Improvement District to provide clean & safe programs.

July 5, 2023

Downtown St. Pete has a construction conundrum

City officials, developers and construction leaders came together to discuss construction and its effects on the walkability of our downtown.

May 24, 2023

Officials looking for solutions to office space shortages

The Partnership raised concerns that St. Peter is losing large companies with high-paying jobs due to lack of premium office space and aging inventory.

May 10, 2023

New affordable housing website aims to help St. Pete residents access local resources

A new website tool for tracking affordable and workforce housing developments in St. Petersburg has been released by the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

March 30, 2023

Leaders of Two Downtown Partnerships are Learning From Each to Create a 'Downtown For All'

Read all about how the leaders of two downtown partnership organizations collaborate to learn more on how to create a "Downtown for All".

August 11, 2023

Growing St. Pete technology companies

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership has published online the criteria for its Technology Fund, an investment fund overseen by the Partnership.

July 27, 2015

First commercial flight to Cuba

The first commercial flight from Tampa International Airport to Havana got off with much fanfare on Monday, and included local community leaders.

December 13, 2016

SPDP Chairman Jeff Hearn featured on SPX

Jeff Hearn, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Raymond James Financial, is a veritable trove of St. Petersburg knowledge.

June 20, 2017

Metz to replace James as CEO

SPDP CEO Joni James is stepping down and David Metz, will become the organization's interim chief executive officer.

December 8, 2017

James stepping down; Metz tapped as interim CEO

Joni James is leaving her post as the SPDP's top executive at the end of this year. The Partnership tapped David Metz as interim CEO effective Jan. 1, 2018.

December 15, 2017

St. Pete 2.0: Establishing priorities for St. Petersburg’s Comprehensive Arts Strategy [Take survey]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, we are asking Catalyst readers and DP members to refine and prioritize some of the themes that emerged from our 1st survey

January 11, 2021

St. Pete 2.0: Establishing priorities for St. Petersburg’s Comprehensive Arts Strategy [Survey results]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, we asked Catalyst readers and Downtown Partnership members to refine and prioritize some of the themes that have emerged.

January 25, 2021

2020 Annual Report

We pivoted to focus on projects designed to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 in 2020. Our goal was to ensure downtown’s continued growth during economic changes

February 1, 2021

Rainbow flag flowing in the wind with Tropicana Field in the background

St. Pete is abuzz about prospects for redo of The Trop

Tropicana Field remains unchanged, a parking lot around a domed stadium with more in common with Houston’s 1960s-era Astrodome than today’s modern ballparks.

February 2, 2021

Comprehensive Arts Strategy Brief

The Comprehensive Arts Strategy (CAS) will develop strategic recommendations to grow St. Petersburg’s arts sector and improve overall community prosperity.

February 2, 2021

Diverse people standing behind a podium at a speaker event

St. Pete 2.0: The state of racial equity in St. Pete in 2021 [Take survey]

St. Pete continues to grapple a difficult history of racial injustice. As we embrace developments in the future we must continue to expand opportunities for all

February 8, 2021

Cop giving a speech at a podium with people behind him

St. Pete 2.0: The state of racial equity in St. Pete in 2021 [Survey results part one]

St. Pete is still coming to terms with a painful history of systemic racism and injustice. With recent U.S deaths, the need for change has never been greater.

February 24, 2021

Aerial shot of a street painted with 'Black Lives Matter' Artfully

St. Pete 2.0: The state of racial equity in St. Pete in 2021 [Survey results part two]

The past year has been turbulent as communities across the country – including St. Petersburg – have reckoned with systemic racism, inequity and injustice.

February 25, 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

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

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

St. Pete Downtown Partnership Supports Marina Redevelopment

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership supports efforts to redevelop the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina.

June 9, 2021

Side view of the Florida Holocaust Museum building with sign

Florida Holocaust Museum: A Place of Hope

The Florida Holocaust Museum’s mission is to honor the memory of the millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust.

June 21, 2021

Next Steps for USF St. Petersburg Campus' Academic Clusters

Community leaders joined the Pinellas Legislative Delegation and USF's leadership team to talk about proposed academic clusters for the USF St. Pete campus.

June 30, 2021

Leadership Luncheon: Floridian Social Club Recap

On June 22, the Downtown Partnership hosted is quarterly Leadership Luncheon at the Floridian Social Club.

June 30, 2021

St. Petersburg Launches a Comprehensive Arts Strategy

Four-point plan aims to make St. Pete the “Preeminent City of Arts in the Southeastern U.S.

July 29, 2021

Camera being held in the air with lens flare

Student Photography Contest - Fall 2021

SPDP is sponsoring a student photography competition to contribute to local student work. The purpose of this contest is to involve the students of USF.

September 17, 2021

Bike with basket leaning against a yellow wall

Downtown Partnership Receives Bike Friendly Business Designation

In August, the League of American Bicyclists certified the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership as a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business.

October 8, 2021

Jason Mathis giving a presentation at Luncheon

Downtown Partnership Luncheon showcases Innovation District’s recent success

Last week, our Leadership Luncheon was all about highlighting the many remarkable projects that have recently come out of the Innovation District.

October 26, 2021

Group photo in front of Downtown St. Pete

Downtown Partnership Shows Off St. Pete to International Downtown Association

Our friends at the Tampa Downtown Partnership hosted the International Downtown Association’s annual convention last month, and St. Pete hosted pre-conference

November 2, 2021

The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Names Jason Mathis as CEO

The Board of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership announces Jason Mathis as the new Chief Executive Officer of the organization.

July 8, 2019

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

Urban Transit to Preserve Our Quality of Life

The Partnership's urban transportation strategy supports eco-conscious and publicly accessible transportation in St. Pete. Learn more about our initiatives.

January 2, 2020

Supporting a Comprehensive Arts Strategy

SPDP recognizes the connection between a strong arts economy and the development of the creative class as an economic engine for growth.

January 8, 2020

Skyline with floating construction cranes on waterfront

Facilitating Transformative Land Use Projects

As a nexus between public & private sector interests, SPDP invests political capital, administrative support, & seed money to support land projects.

January 14, 2020

People raising their hands in a classroom

Advocating for Higher Education

The Partnership supports USF St. Petersburg, USF College of Marine Science, and St. Petersburg College along with other institutions of higher education.

January 16, 2020

St. Pete 2.0 Results: St. Pete Still Has a Long Way To Go In Efforts Toward Racial Equity, Inclusion

In honor of Black History Month, we put out a survey asking readers about racial equity. We found that St. Pete has made strides, but still has a ways to go.

March 2, 2020

Black and white image of a man wearing a mask

St. Pete 2.0: A Post COVID-19 Economy (Survey)

At this stage of COVID, it’s hard to know what the future holds for St. Pete’s businesses or community, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start preparing for it.

April 24, 2020

Zoom Call screen with multiple squares of participants

Downtown Partnership Participates in Restart St. Pete.

Along with medical experts and other business and community leaders, the SPDP is participating in Mayor Kriseman’s Restart St. Pete Taskforce.

April 28, 2020

Screenshot of group Zoom meeting with Speaker Designate Chris Sprowls

A Conversation with Speaker Designate Chris Sprowls

The SPDP was pleased to host a conversation with Chris Sprowls yesterday focused on COVID-19, the healthcare response and Florida’s economic recovery efforts.

May 1, 2020

Welcome to the neighborhood shop small doormat in front of local business

Downtown Partnership Teams Up with Downtown Business Association to Support Local Businesses

Purchasing gift cards can be an amazing way to support local businesses while staying socially distant.

May 4, 2020

St. Pete Shines Together lawn sign in front of St. Pete home

St. Pete Shines Together Lawn Signs

The Downtown Partnership is promoting the hashtag #KeepStPeteShining to promote positive stories about our resilient community.

May 7, 2020

St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Donates to Local Higher Education & Businesses

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the SPDP has stepped up to donate a total of $40,000 to local high education institutions and programs supporting local businesses.

May 26, 2020

St. Pete 2.0: A Post COVID-19 Economy – and How Colleges and Universities Can Prepare

As COVID-19 wreaked havoc on our economy, we asked the St. Pete Catalyst readers and our members to think about what a post COVID-19 economy would look like.

June 11, 2020

Downtown St. Pete skyline in sunny weather

St. Pete 2.0: What Should We Prioritize As We Rebuild? [Survey]

Every city in America has an opportunity to emerge from this time in ways that will shape our future, & St. Pete seems uniquely suited to meet these challenges.

July 1, 2020

Downtown St. Pete skyline at night with reflections on the water

St. Pete 2.0 Results: What Are We Prioritizing As We Rebuild St. Pete?

St. Pete, like so many other cities, is at a crossroads, and the decisions we make now will have a dramatic impact on what the city looks like in the future.

July 14, 2020

Red pelican statue next to St. Pete Pier sign

A Socially Distant, Closer Look at the St. Pete Pier

Whether you have seen the Pier already, or plan to see it soon, here are some fast facts about this new world-class amenity to our downtown.

July 22, 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. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Florida Trend Ad

The Partnership recently took out an ad in Florida Trend speaking to St. Petersburg’s renaissance.

July 31, 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

Woman wearing a mask shopping for vegetables at the store

St. Pete 2.0: Adjusting to the New Normal After Six Months of Covid-19 [Survey]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, we’re teaming up to help kick off off the Catalyst’s new series The New Normal: Six Months Under Covid.

September 2, 2020

The Business Case for Masks

St. Pete utilizes masks and social distancing as the tools we need to use to keep COVID positivity rates low and our economy moving forward.

September 11, 2020

Meet the Branding & Advertising Cool Kids at Pyper, Inc.

Get to know Pyper, Inc. and see how their branding and advertising work has impacted businesses of Downtown St. Pete, Tampa Bay and nationwide.

September 21, 2020

St. Pete 2.0 Results: Adjusting to the New Normal After Six Months of Covid-19 (Part One)

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0 and as part of the Catalyst series, we wanted to get a sense of what the last 6 months have been like for local residents.

September 21, 2020

Restart St. Pete H-stake sign in bushes with the St. Pete Downtown skyline in the background

St. Pete 2.0 Results: Adjusting to the New Normal After Six Months of Covid-19 (Part Two)

In part two of our St. Pete 2.0 survey, we’re taking a look at its physical & financial toll of Covid-19.

September 22, 2020

Restart St. Pete spray-painted in orange on a yellow ground

St. Pete 2.0 Results: Silver Linings and Surprises From Six Months of Covid-19 (Part Three)

In part 3 of our St. Pete 2.0 survey, we asked people to find the silver lining of Covid-19’s impact on the community.

September 23, 2020

IDA Presents Downtown Achievement Awards to St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership

The International Downtown Association recognized the SPDP with the Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for work on the 2020 Downtown Development Guide.

September 24, 2020

St. Pete 2.0 Results: What Does the Future Hold After Six Months of Covid-19 (Part Four)

In our final installment of our St. Pete 2.0 survey, we asked participants to share what they predict will be the lasting impacts of Covid-19 on the community.

September 25, 2020

Courtyard by Marriott: Committed to Clean & Community

Almost 100 years later, the historic Courtyard by Marriott is still accommodating guests as they enjoy and explore Downtown St. Pete.

September 29, 2020

Artist spray-painting a wall with a face covering

St. Pete 2.0: Art as an Economic Driver [Survey]

As sectors adapt & evolve to manage the impact of Covid, artists & arts organizations are forced to reimagine how they share their work and keep the lights on.

October 1, 2020

St. Pete 2.0 Results: Arts As an Economic Driver [Part One]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, SPDP and the Arts Alliance seek to quantify the role that art plays in our community, our development as a city & in our lives.

October 19, 2020

St. Pete 2.0: Arts As an Economic Driver [Part Two]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, The SPDP and Arts Alliance seek to develop a greater understanding of the connections between the arts community and the city.

October 20, 2020

Bayfront Health St. Petersburg’s New Leaders Say They Will Strengthen Historic Community Ties

One top goal of the new leaders at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg will be to build on the hospital’s legacy in the community.

October 28, 2020

Downtown building and intersection, with bikers

St. Pete 2.0: The Changing Dynamic of the Workplace in the Covid-19 Era [Survey]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, we are asking our readers & SPDP members to help us identify future needs and understand Covid’s impact on daily life & work.

November 5, 2020

St. Pete 2.0: The Changing Dynamic of the Workplace in the Covid-19 Era [Survey Results]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, we asked our readers and SPDP members to identify how Covid has changed the way they work.

November 20, 2020

USF St. Petersburg campus walkway with overarching trees and university pole banner

St. Pete 2.0: Understanding the Role of USF’s St. Petersburg Campus in the Community [Survey]

As USF’s St. Pete campus continues to evolve, we want to engage locals & ask your opinion on how the university & business community can strengthen partnerships

December 8, 2020

USF St. Petersburg campus building in sunny weather

St. Pete 2.0: Understanding the Role of USF’s St. Petersburg Campus in the Community [Survey Results]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, we asked Catalyst readers and SPDP members to share how the university and business community can strengthen partnerships.

December 31, 2020

St. Pete Downtown Partnership Now On Social Media

Let's get social! Connect with us on social media thanks to our talented team.

January 10, 2019

Street view of a residential building in Downtown St. Pete

Maintaining A Sense of Place

How do you balance urban development and business growth with local history while combating gentrification? Read our thoughts on our blog.

March 14, 2019

Monochromatic photo of Tropicana Field and the St. Pete skyline

SPDP Press Release – The Rays in St. Petersburg and Montreal

The Downtown Partnership has been a long-time advocate for economic growth in our urban center and the Rays are an important part of our urban economy.

June 9, 2019

Update on Community Relations Position at USF’s St. Petersburg campus

In July, SPDP invested into its Higher Education priority by partnering with the City of St. Pete, the St. Pete Innovation District, & the USF St. Pete campus.

January 4, 2022

Cheryl Washington - President and CEO, East Baltimore Development, Inc.

Cheryl Washington is the President and Chief Executive Office for East Baltimore Development, Inc.

February 3, 2022

Karen Johnson - Chief Real Estate Officer, East Baltimore Development, Inc.

Karen Major Johnson joined East Baltimore Development Inc. as the Family Advocacy Department Attorney & currently serves as the Chief Real Estate Officer.

Cris Jones - Director of Community Vitality, City of Boulder Colorado

While technically a native of Colorado, Cris Jones is, at heart, an army brat with family roots in Utah.

February 3, 2022

Matt Rader - President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Matt Rader is the 37th President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

February 3, 2022

Cranes and a partially constructed building along a Downtown St. Pete road

NTM-1 Statement from the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership

Limited buildable residential land in St. Pete, combined with high construction costs and unprecedented demand are contributing to rapidly rising housing costs.

February 24, 2022

Aerial photo of Albert Whitted Airport and St. Pete skyline in partly cloudy weather

Albert Whitted Airport Statement from the Downtown Partnership

As St. Pete continues to grow, we support data-based, long term analysis about future land use, including the publicly owned land at Albert Whitted Airport.

March 1, 2022

Photo from behind a lively audience facing a stage in sunny weather

St. Pete Welcomes County’s Biggest Reggae Festival

Reggae Rise Up contributes $22M in economic impact To St. Petersburg.

March 18, 2022

USF's Center of Excellence in Environmental & Oceanographic Science

SPDP’s highest legislative priority in 2022 was funding for the Environmental & Oceanographic Sciences Research & Teaching Facility on USF’s St. Pete campus.

April 1, 2022

Dawn Shirreffs, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Florida Director

As the Environmental Defense Fund’s Florida Director, Dawn Shirreffs leverages scientists and economists to help Florida to better address climate change.

April 15, 2023