Welch will not ‘pause’ Trop site redevelopment

At least one St. Petersburg City Council member wants the mayoral administration to pump the brakes on selecting a redevelopment proposal for the Historic Gas Plant District, which is currently home to Tropicana Field.

Councilmember Brandi Gabbard has requested a vote on a resolution that formally opposes Mayor Ken Welch “moving forward with any developer selection” before the city completes an extensive study. She submitted the new business item Friday.

Gabbard’s request was subsequently added to the Feb. 5 agenda. Proposals are due Tuesday, and the city council will vote on her resolution two days later.

“The city has a responsibility to ensure that the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District is guided by sound planning and principles and meaningful community participation,” states the resolution.

“Best practices for large-scale urban redevelopment support the use of independent, professionally qualified planners to lead and engage residents in meaningful planning efforts.”

Gabbard’s resolution will likely garner some internal and external support. It notes that in October, the city council unanimously approved a committee discussion on hiring the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to study the roughly 86-acre site.

The organization boasts the world’s oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary land use experts. ULI Tampa Bay’s Advisory Services program would help ensure that future development aligns with St. Petersburg’s current goals.

“No, I’m not pausing,” Welch told the Catalyst.

Welch reiterated Monday that the city has spent over a decade planning for the Gas Plant’s future. Those efforts included two studies, “both with a stadium and without a stadium.”

Over 1,000 residents helped shape previous agreements -approved by the city council – with the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines development team through several community meetings. “This development has such a history that is unique,” Welch said.

“It’s not just a blank slate,” he added. “There are promises tied to that, and that’s why some of the same ‘plan first’ folks are the folks who opposed the Rays/Hines deal. They want us to sell it all for the highest value. It’s about honoring those promises, and that’s the very definition of inclusive progress.”

According to the resolution, “establishing a clear, community-driven strategic roadmap for redevelopment” before selecting or advancing a proposal will “place the city in a stronger position to negotiate and deliver outcomes that honor the past, while ensuring lasting benefits for present and future generations.”

“Such planning efforts completed in advance of any developer selection will allow the city to clearly define land use, infrastructure, affordability, public benefits, design expectations, economic development opportunities, environmental stewardship and community priorities for the Historic Gas Plant District,” states the resolution.

The council did not set a date for the committee discussion in October. At the time, Gabbard called the study an “important step forward to making sure we have voices at the table” who are “not here to make money off of this property.”

The Oct. 17 meeting came two weeks after the city received a $6.8 billion unsolicited bid from ARK Investment Management, Ellison Development and Horus Construction. Four days later, Welch announced that he would formally launch a land disposition process and accept additional proposals.

Welch has repeatedly stated that developers had months to prepare after the Tampa Bay Rays exited an arduously negotiated deal in March 2025. However, he agreed to delay opening the 30-day submission window until January.

At the October meeting, Gabbard said the ULI study would cost approximately $135,000. City Administrator Rob Gerdes said, “If this goes to committee, we’re happy to have the discussion.”

The Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee has yet to consider hiring ULI. If approved there, the initiative would still require a vote from the full city council.

Welch said Monday that interested developers will present their plans at a public forum. Community benefit negotiations will follow, and it will “definitely” be months before he selects a winning proposal.

“When I ran for office, folks didn’t want us to continue planning,” Welch said. “They wanted some impact from a 40-year promise, when the land was taken, for economic inclusion at the site.”

Council resolutions are non-binding, but unanimous support could sway Welch. He agreed to move forward with the sale of the Science Center after all eight members and dozens of residents spoke in favor of its redevelopment in September 2025.

The Gas Plant resolution requests Welch to “pause any action to select, negotiate with or advance a developer” until after establishing a “comprehensive planning framework,” which would significantly delay the process.” It adds that “independent, qualified planners” guided by city residents, businesses and other stakeholders should complete the study to foster “long-term public benefits.”

Welch filed for reelection Monday. Gabbard has announced that she will run against him this fall.

“We can plan forever,” Welch said. “It’s time for action.”