Thrive
City will appraise Trop site after selecting proposal
“I can’t place value on letting some of the descendants of the Gas Plant area finally see something done.”
St. Petersburg will reappraise 86 acres of prime real estate, currently home to Tropicana Field, but not before selecting a new redevelopment proposal.
Some city council members expressed dismay over the timeline Thursday. The most recent valuation is over two years old, and Mayor Ken Welch announced plans to advance the proposal process in October.
Welch will delay the 30-day submission window’s launch until Jan. 4. However, in a memo sent to the council Wednesday, he doubled down on his decision not to reissue a formal request for proposals (RFP) – the genesis for the subsequent debate.
“To be really blunt, I think if we’re going to be serious about this, start counting votes now,” Councilmember Gina Driscoll said to the administration.
“If I’m not comfortable with the process, I’m probably not going to be comfortable with the proposal that’s brought before us to vote on.”
She and multiple colleagues believe the city should have conducted a new appraisal in the time between the Tampa Bay Rays, now under new ownership, exiting a new stadium deal in March, and Welch’s Oct. 21 announcement that he would welcome additional proposals in mid-November.
Officials received an unsolicited $6.8 billion bid Oct. 3 from a group led by ARK Investment Management and Ellison Development. The city is acting pursuant to a state statute that mandates a 30-day window before selling property in a community redevelopment area (CRA).
Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz said an appraisal typically occurs before making a deal, “not after the fact.” City Development Administrator James Corbett noted that St. Petersburg spent two years negotiating redevelopment agreements with the Rays.
“I’m not going to wait for the appraisal until after we start negotiating a deal,” Corbett added. “It will be before that. I also want to time the appraisal where it’s not too dated.”
Councilmember Brandi Gabbard said several constituents have expressed concerns over the site’s unknown valuation. Ark Ellison Horus will pay the city “at least” $202 million for 94.5 acres.
The group believes its $2.1 million per-acre offer reflects the project’s “premier location and transformative potential.” The Rays planned to purchase 65 acres for $105 million – $1.6 million per acre – and offered $50 million in community benefits.
Gabbard is among those who want a formal RFP process and additional time. She also reminded her colleagues that they approved her Oct. 16 request for a committee discussion on hiring the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to conduct an unbiased, professional study on the Gas Plant’s best uses.
Welch wrote that reissuing an RFP is neither necessary nor beneficial since the project’s 23 guiding principles, established in 2022 and “confirmed by subsequent community convenings,” remain unchanged. He also noted that developers previously had 60 days from the time of his announcement to submit proposals, and now have 105.
“I don’t understand this rush for a win right now,” Gabbard said.
The former Black community is home to Tropicana Field and a sea of surface parking lots. Photo by Mark Parker.
Councilmember Mike Harting is “good” with not reissuing an RFP. He also credited Councilmember Richie Floyd for requesting additional time, and Welch for acquiescing.
Municipalities prioritize the “greater good” over profits, Harting continued, and the generational project will exponentially increase property tax collections. However, those benefits are hard to quantify.
“We’re not going to sell the property for what it’s valued at,” Harting said. “We’re going to sell it for less … And I get that, but I want to be comfortable with the logic … and what that looks like for the city.”
Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders said she thinks about “that little girl whose church was totally destroyed” when the city displaced thousands of Black residents in the 1980s to build the stadium. She took issue with people who call the process rushed or believe officials should maximize their financial return.
“I can’t stand when people want to make decisions for other people like that – what’s best for other people?” Figgs-Sanders said. “I can’t place value on letting some of the descendants of the Gas Plant area finally see something done.”
She also questioned whether the ULI study would include locals who understand the area’s history and importance. No one understands the property’s worth better than the people who once called the Gas Plant home, Figgs-Sanders added.
Gabbard said the ULI group could include experts from throughout the region – the organization has a Tampa office – the state or beyond. Community partners would work with people who “understand very complex projects.”
Corbett said the city would launch its community benefits process once officials and the selected developer establish a term sheet. Welch wrote that jobs, housing, equitable economic development, resilience, green space and “meaningful recognition” of the Gas Plant community remain atop the priority list.
“The only material change from those principles is that the inclusion of a new stadium for the Tampa Rays, in partnership with Pinellas County, is no longer instrumental in planning the redevelopment,” states his memo. “Our unified work to include the Tampa Bay Rays in the long-term vision of the Historic Gas plant, and their subsequent abdication, have provided more clarity for our city and the property.”
Welch said he would no longer support offering Intown CRA tax-increment financing to help fund the project. “Any reconsideration by the new owners … regarding a future new stadium development would require other funding sources.”
Floyd withdrew his resolution that, if approved Thursday, would have urged Welch to launch a formal RFP and extend the submission deadline. However, he said it would be “harder” to approve a proposal while disagreeing with the process.
Ark Ellison Horus’ proposal would feature an elevated park that reconnects the Historic Gas Plant District and South St. Petersburg neighborhoods. Renderings provided.
Bill Herrmann
November 17, 2025at8:16 am
Maybe I’m old fashioned, but the City Charter is very clear on this. Chapter 2, Division 1, Article V governs purchasing of goods and services, and by implication selling of this land should also govern by it.
That section of the Charter calls for open bidding to protect the interest. Exactly what is NOT happening here.
Why not do this right- the way the City is now handling the Marina? Develop a RFP/RFQ, that has clear requirements, selection criteria, and an open selection process.
Finally, the CRA should NOT be selling land, it should by buying land. That land should be transferred to a land trust to ensure real-world work force housing for the next 99 years. As stated previously, we need is housing a 10-year City employee can be able to afford.
Steven Sullivan
November 17, 2025at8:58 am
Sir your viewpoint doesn’t count and your inference that there is some alternative rule that isn’t written and spelled out is not being truthful. Im pretty sure the administration is well within there rights through consultation with the city attorney or outside legal firm. The mayor has already laid out the criteria for development of the site. That’s not changing and has been known for 2yrs now. And this has to be a destination mixed use development that incorporates housing not a standalone housing or condo development. Let’s not have a 5yr replay of the pie. Besides the Rays will likely make a proposal just so they keep that option open. Hillsborough and or Tampa isn’t looking so promising
Bill Herrmann
November 17, 2025at10:54 am
Mr. Sullivan,
I will assume you were under-caffeinated, as your response was way off. Let’s look at it together…
“Sir your viewpoint doesn’t count”— I will simply ignore that rash statement.
“inference that there is some alternative rule that isn’t written and spelled out is not being truthful.” I am simply reading the Charter. These are the rules that we all approved for use by our elected officials. I welcome informed statements that show me wrong. I never claimed infallibility.
“Im pretty sure the administration is well within there rights through consultation with the city attorney or outside legal firm.” While you are “pretty sure” you cite no legal document. Once again, I welcome informed responses that show how the Mayor has the vested LEGAL right to go forward without a proper bidding process.
“The mayor has already laid out the criteria for development of the site.” Have you seen a WRITTEN RFQ or RFP? Absent that there are no binding criteria. We have already seen the response date changed…
“And this has to be a destination mixed use development that incorporates housing not a standalone housing or condo development.” I never said it should be a standalone- I only stated it should have real-world work force housing. Logically, a development of this size will need some retail, supermarkets and dining that target real world workers. We have enough $50-150/plate restaurants.
“Let’s not have a 5yr replay of the pie.” The best way of not having another hot mess is to do it right. Write up a RFQ/RFP, put it out for bids, have a firm deadline, have a selection committee, have open selection committee meetings and let the chips fall. Doing this outside the public eye invites debate and distrust.
As to the Rays- MEH!!!
Steven Sullivan
November 17, 2025at11:59 am
Bill you haven’t proven any rebuttal. The administration has done this process already, obviously legal because coun c il is not complaining . Administration has already cited state law under which mayor Welch was going to operate. 30 days from the public notice. He simply delayed the notice to accommodate those like you and developers which, again is his right to do. I trust mayor Welchs judgement about his rights and duties over you. He has decades of government administration and management versus you and unknown individual. And like I said the requirements and criteria for development of those parcels ever since his first few months in office that is exactly why they received an unsolicited proposal that checked all the boxes and a s the mayor has already stated. There have been other city parcels developed that did not have a RFQ issued. No different
Darren Ginn
November 16, 2025at11:57 am
St. Pete does not need an overdeveloped complex which would basically be a giant amusement park to line the pockets of developers and others involved. Big developers build and leave not caring what consequences there are for the community as long as they get their profits.
We don’t need attractions that would create congestion, the percentage of inconsiderate behaviors that comes with crowds, etcetera.
Proposals for exactly what would be built in this space need to be fully revealed and voted upon by our fellow citizens.
Hal Freedman
November 16, 2025at1:05 am
Appraisal after the selection? Selling something before you know its value? Gee, putting it that way makes it sound like a dumb plan…
S. Rose Smith-Hayes
November 15, 2025at7:16 pm
Mayor Welch did NOT grow up in the Gas Plant area. His grandfather owned a wood yard on 16th Street and 5th Avenue South. His son and father of Ken Welch, David Welch was a member of City Council. Mayor Welch’s grandfather was well compensated for his property. No member of the Welch family lived in the Gas Plant area.
A company is being asked to bid on a property without knowing its current value? Really????Where do they do that????I am a descendant of the Gas Plant area. I buried my favorite uncle a year after he was forced to move. He was Not ill before he moved. Some that owned businesses there were never allowed to move back and open their businesses. Neither were their children or other family members allowed to return.
Steven Sullivan
November 15, 2025at8:12 pm
They’re going to do their own appraisal any so that’s moot. And they will never pay the g government it’s full land value that doesn’t happen. Whether it’s you or some other descendant you got folks out here talking like they know what’s best. It was part of the black community who sacrificed home and business
JAMES GILLESPIE
November 15, 2025at5:05 pm
CLEARLY RATHER MESSY. YES, THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE GAS PLANT AREA HAVE AN INTEREST THAT MUST NOT BE IGNORED BUT THE CITY ALSO MUST PROTECT ITS INTERESTS AND ACT IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROCESS, REGS, ETC. THERE IS A RIGHT WAY TO DO IT TO AVOID CHALLENGES AND LEGAL ATTACKS’
Steven Sullivan
November 15, 2025at5:33 pm
He’s on solid legal ground.
Alan DeLisle
November 15, 2025at8:13 am
Welch and his team are about to make the same mistake, all wrong again. Standard economic development practice is for the city to compile all the facts and values about the project before a selection is made. Then you use the selection process to negotiate the best deal for the city and allow the responders to play off of each other. You never make a selection based on the first, vanilla proposal. After interviews with the development teams where you discuss term sheet ideas and concepts, you ask for best and finals and see who is getting closer to reality. You never rush the process and use it to get what the city needs and wants.
Welch is clueless or it just proves he has already made his decision and needs worthless progress to try to cover for incompetence. This is just too painful to watch again. Don’t let it happen St Pete.
Steven Sullivan
November 15, 2025at3:09 pm
Like Figgs-Sanders said how are you going to tell the children of the former residents what you want there versus what they want. And council woman Sanders and Mayor Welch are the children who actually grew up there.