A rendering of the Rays’ proposed new stadium and development project called the Historic Gas Plant District. [Courtesy of Hines]
ST. PETERSBURG — The City of St. Petersburg released the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment agreement with the Rays-Hines Group on April 25 so city council members can comb through the document before the May 9 committee of the whole meeting where they will discuss the proposal.
The document details how they plan to honor Black residents displaced more than 40 years ago to make way for Tropicana Field. Rays-Hines is slated to pay $105,268,000 for 36 acres. Phase One includes:
- The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
- 1,250 affordable/workforce housing units
- 500-room hotel
- Class-A medical office
- Stores and restaurants
- Conference space
The agreement also outlines $50 million from Rays-Hines, including $10 million for the Woodson Museum. The rest will go toward workforce training and minority business development.
If the plan is approved, construction will begin early next year.
The next phases will also include affordable workforce housing, a renovated Booker Creek, a daycare, library, 14 acres of green space, more hotels, medical offices, retail and residential units. The last phase is slated to begin in 2035.
The city council will discuss the development agreement at the May 23 meeting. The council members should vote on both agreements in June.
