St. Pete releases proposal requirements for Trop Field redevelopment
St. Pete traffic, cars transportation trop

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The new request will require proposals to carve out an area for a baseball stadium.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has unveiled the city’s new request for proposals (RPF) for redeveloping the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant district, which is currently home to Tropicana Field.

The 33-page RPF wants proposals to include equitable redevelopment, a 17.3-acre carve-out for a baseball stadium and new requirements for affordable and workforce housing. The RPF also adds new demands, responding to current economic and societal conditions.

“This is an historic opportunity for our city to utilize a generational redevelopment opportunity to ensure equitable opportunity for all residents, visitors, businesses and stakeholders,” Welch said in a statement.

“With this new RFP we are calling for a significant emphasis on affordable and workforce housing; arts and culture; research, innovation, and education; recreation; open space, healthy and sustainable development; and intentional equity. We look forward to receiving and reviewing proposals as we prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The decision to launch a new RFP to redevelop the Trop site was announced by Welch back in June, canceling the previous RFP and selection issued by former Mayor Rick Kriseman in 2020.

Welch said he made the decision after careful consideration and communication with city staff regarding city needs, current economic trends and changing workforce needs. He also emphasized intentional equitable development, citing results of the city’s Disparity Study and Structural Racism report.

This RFP calls for proposals that include accommodations for a new, integrated, state-of-the-art baseball stadium, a shift from the previous RFP that included plans both with and without a stadium. The RPF also makes clear its goal to fulfill unrealized promises, wanting to include new attainable housing, equitable business opportunities, office space, meeting space and open space.

To create the RPF, the city held several “Community Conversations” with residents and stakeholders, whose priorities are included in the RPF’s 23 guiding principles.

Responses to the RPF are due Nov. 18 by 10 a.m. All qualified proposals will be presented to Welch for consideration and selection based on criteria defined in the RFP. Welch may select a proposal without discussion if it is determined to be in the public interest for intended site use, according to a news release.

The city will host a pre-proposal meeting on Sept. 12, which will include an overview of the site and relevant planning efforts and brief presentations from city leadership.

Kelly Hayes

Kelly Hayes studied journalism and political science at the University of Florida. Kelly was born and raised in Tampa Bay. A recent graduate, she enjoys government and legal reporting. She has experience covering the Florida Legislature as well as local government, and is a proud Alligator alum. You can reach Kelly at [email protected].


One comment

  • Richard Bruce

    August 29, 2022 at 12:37 pm

    All housing is affordable. It’s BS to claim equity in low cost housing. How is it equable to force many to pay for an unearned benefit for a few? Is it equable for taxpayers to subsidize construction of a stadium for a private business with no equity stake? Why does the city keep increasing population density without making new tenants pay for their infrastructure impact? Potholes are appearing all over the city. Sewage and water system is overburdened. Stop cramming more people into smaller areas. Turn the Trop site into a park.

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