The City of St. Petersburg has formally opened a competitive submission window for redevelopment proposals tied to the Historic Gas Plant District, advancing a legally required step after receiving an unsolicited proposal for the site.
The City announced it will publish a public notice on Sunday, Jan. 4, allowing competing or alternative proposals for the lease, purchase or development of approximately 86 acres within the district.
Under Florida Statute 163.380, municipalities that receive unsolicited redevelopment proposals must provide an opportunity for other interested parties to submit competing plans before moving forward.
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The submission window will remain open through 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, providing interested parties 30 days from the date of publication to respond.
Proposals may cover all or a portion of the Historic Gas Plant District property and may involve leasing, purchasing, or development arrangements, according to the City.
The Gas Plant District has been the focus of years of redevelopment planning and public discussion and is widely viewed as one of the most consequential real estate redevelopment opportunities in the Tampa Bay area.
City leaders have previously described the site as a long-term priority.
Mayor Ken Welch has said the city intends to begin developing the 86-acre district after 2028, regardless of the future of Tropicana Field.
He has also said two parcels within the district are already advancing, including sites for workforce housing and the Woodson African American Museum.
The newly announced competitive window does not select a developer or approve a project.
Instead, it formally opens the market, allowing additional parties to submit proposals that will be evaluated alongside the unsolicited submission already received.
Additional instructions for submitting proposals will be available here once the public notice is published.
Previously published renderings show one potential redevelopment concept for the Gas Plant District as the City opens the process to competing proposals:
