St. Pete Catalyst

New proposal, new model for the Gas Plant 👀 A team of familiar names has entered the mix with a plan that would keep Tropicana Field and the surrounding 86 acres in city ownership—while rethinking how redevelopment actually gets done. Foundation Vision Partners—led by Will Conroy of Backstreets Capital, Alex Schapira (formerly of Hines), and Anddrikk Frazier of Best Source Consulting—is pitching an infrastructure-first, master-planning approach for the Historic Gas Plant District. https://lnkd.in/eVN7GgeW

JA of Tampa Bay, which creates programs to support and empower students within 12 counties, developed Muma BizTown to introduce children to a real-world setting. Participants spend one day at the mock city and get to become workers and citizens. https://lnkd.in/eWQS8Qi7

👀 Pump the brakes — or full speed ahead? A St. Petersburg City Council member is calling for a pause on selecting a redevelopment proposal for the Historic Gas Plant District, arguing the city should complete an independent planning study before moving forward. Councilmember Brandi Gabbard wants a vote to formally oppose any developer selection until deeper analysis and community engagement happen — including a possible study by the Urban Land Institute. Mayor Ken Welch isn’t slowing down, saying the city has spent more than a decade planning for the site’s future. https://lnkd.in/e8-CNtpB

"What I noticed as a new resident, and being from somewhere else, is that everyone is in a good mood here," says the Canadian singer/songwriter. https://lnkd.in/gD_YFTAa

Part 2 of 2 “What do people blame the city for that we actually don’t control?” 👀 At State of the Bay, Tampa Bay’s three largest mayors didn’t dodge the question. From roads and property taxes to state-level budget decisions, Castor, Welch, and Rector all pointed to a growing disconnect between who residents blame—and who actually holds the levers. With property taxes, ballot initiatives, and Tallahassee politics looming large, the conversation underscored a shared reality: big-city budgets can’t pivot overnight, and decisions made at the state level carry real consequences for local governments—especially smaller municipalities. More context, more nuance, and a candid moment of regional agreement. https://lnkd.in/eqbx6jCW

First introduced in 2021, the public-private initiative aims to update an area located beneath I-275 by adding community spaces and amenities. More so, it was designed to reconnect multiple neighborhoods that were “historically divided by the interstate,” according to the City of St. Petersburg’s website. https://lnkd.in/eqdTxZTF

St. Petersburg faces a $17.87 million preliminary budget gap, more than double the deficit at this point in fiscal year 2023. https://lnkd.in/eV2wMK2z

A chat with artists John Gascot and Laura Spencer about Saturday's public art kickoff event. https://lnkd.in/eYgKTDGZ

A Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office corrections deputy has been arrested and terminated following an investigation. James Jones, 66, was arrested Wednesday evening for battery. He posted a $1,000 bail and was released. The officer had worked for the PCSO since 2021. Jones was assigned to guard George Miller at the St. Petersburg-based HCA Florida Northside Hospital in December, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri explained at a media event today. https://lnkd.in/e5GMJrPf

Mayor Ken Welch says Florida DOGE’s review of St. Pete’s finances “wasn’t a true audit.” The newly released 98-page report says otherwise — calling out salaries, DEI programs, and what it labels “virtue signaling” as drivers of wasteful spending. Who’s right? 👀 https://lnkd.in/ekw32iaP