A $12 million City subsidy for 24 townhomes raises a bigger question: Should St. Petersburg bring more independent financial and professional expertise into major decisions before they are made?
Charlie Crist’s comments on the Gas Plant point toward a different approach: let the City set the vision, maintain control and preserve the value of this extraordinary public property.
Mayor Ken Welch says the Gas Plant generates interest around the world. So why move forward after only two local bids and an offer far below the City’s own appraisals?
See where St. Petersburg mayoral and District 6 City Council candidates stand on the future of the Historic Gas Plant District—and whether they support city-led planning or a master developer …
Cities create value by creating great neighborhoods. Why should the value the City creates benefit a single developer rather than the citizens who already own the land? Vision. Control. Value.This …
The Historic Gas Plant redevelopment will unfold over decades. Markets will change, priorities will evolve, and unexpected challenges will arise. That is why St. Petersburg should retain control of the …
The Historic Gas Plant is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a signature public park. But before deciding its size, design, or location, St. Petersburg should first answer a more fundamental …
Before deciding what should be built on the Historic Gas Plant District, St. Petersburg should decide what kind of city it wants to become. That means asking whether I-175—and every …
Who Should Lead the Redevelopment?St. Petersburg is about to make one of the most important public policy decisions in its history.Who should lead the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant …
The debate isn’t whether one developer or two developers should redevelop the Historic Gas Plant. The real question is who should create the master plan. Drawing on lessons from successful …
Should one developer, two developers, or the City determine the future of the Historic Gas Plant? The real question isn’t who builds it—it’s who creates the plan. Lessons from successful …
As reported by St. Pete Rising, two downtown St. Petersburg properties totaling just 1.8 acres sold for $32.5 million—about $18 million per acre.That price didn’t happen by accident. It reflects …
Seven years after a development team was selected for St. Petersburg’s former Police Headquarters site, the only completed structure is a parking garage. What lessons should the City learn before …
St. Petersburg is evaluating three proposals for the future of the Historic Gas Plant site. But before choosing a proposal, should the city first decide what it wants for this …
Across the country, several high-profile redevelopment projects began with developer proposals before a comprehensive public plan was in place. Many resulted in delays, cost overruns, lawsuits, and scaled-back promises. These …
The Historic Gas Plant District represents one of the largest public redevelopment opportunities in St. Petersburg’s history. This guide examines the planning, governance, housing, infrastructure, and public value questions that …
What do St. Petersburg, New York, Chicago, Denver, Austin, and other successful cities have in common? They planned first. Eleven examples show how cities shaped their future before development began.
New appraisals of the St. Petersburg Gas Plant redevelopment site raise major questions about public value, city planning, leadership, and whether the process should now be paused before irreversible decisions …
A recent Florida stadium land proposal raises a larger civic question: Should government independently determine the value of public assets before committing them to private development? This is Part 2 …
An elderly couple asks their attorney to sell valuable land for the benefit of charity while also respecting the surrounding community. But did he truly determine what the property was …
Former Mayor Rick Baker shares his perspective on planning, parks, public space, and the future redevelopment of St. Petersburg’s Historic Gas Plant District.
St. Petersburg’s public meeting on the Historic Gas Plant site was supposed to provide clarity. Instead, major questions about affordable housing, infrastructure costs, appraisals, and whether the city should lead …
If the city can successfully lead a $165 million marina redevelopment, why would it take a different approach for the much larger and more important Gas Plant site?
The city is proposing to borrow $600 million for stormwater and resiliency—while also considering plans that could give away up to $1 billion in public value at the Gas Plant …
What happens when a city leads its own development? Denver’s Stapleton shows how planning first, setting the rules, and then bringing in developers creates stronger, long-term results.
Boys & Girls Clubs provide a safe, structured place for kids after school—helping them succeed, build confidence, and stay on track in our community.
The City of St. Petersburg is preparing to select a developer for the Gas Plant site—potentially at a steep discount. A city-led approach could preserve long-term value, control, and better …
City Council voted 6–2 to pause and plan first. So why is the Mayor moving forward anyway—and what questions still need answers?
A growing disconnect is emerging over the future of St. Petersburg’s Historic Gas Plant site. While City Council has called for a planning-first approach, the administration continues to advance a …
Mayor Welch recently suggested that Home Runs Matter is advocating for “million-dollar condos” and delaying progress at the Gas Plant site. That’s not accurate. Here’s what has actually been proposed—and …
St. Petersburg has narrowed the Gas Plant site to four proposals—but they point in fundamentally different directions. That’s not progress. It’s a signal that the city has not yet decided …
St. Petersburg’s leaders face complex decisions, but they are not expected to be experts in everything. A formal advisory council can provide the structure and independent perspective needed to make …
How Decisions Are Made Matters – St. Petersburg Skyline What Good Leadership Should Look Like: The Role of City Council In a recent post, I wrote about the role of …
As the St. Petersburg mayoral race begins, voters should remember they are choosing the leader of a billion-dollar organization. The question isn’t just who is running—but what kind of leadership …
A hockey fight reminded me of the night I stopped going to NHL games — and raised a question about what message fighting in sports sends to kids.
The 86-acre Historic Gas Plant site surrounding Tropicana Field — one of the most important public redevelopment opportunities in St. Petersburg. A closer look at the planning-first approach and why …
As St. Petersburg considers the future of the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant site, recent litigation underscores why structure, sequencing, and meaningful competition matter before entering into a long-term master development …
The Historic Gas Plant District before Tropicana Field. The next decision will shape generations. What Was Actually SubmittedNine proposals were submitted in response to the City’s notice regarding redevelopment of …
On February 5, St. Petersburg City Council voted 6–2 to ask St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch to pause his selection process for the Gas Plant site and plan first. This …
Mayor Ken Welch has now made clear that he intends to move forward with selecting a developer for the Tropicana Field site. He has stated that the City has already …
Yesterday, I wrote about what the seven development proposals tell us about the sequencing question facing the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant site.Today, the Tampa Bay Times published my op-ed, “Order …
The 86-acre Historic Gas Plant surrounding Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg What the Seven Gas Plant Proposals Tell Us About St. Petersburg’s Redevelopment ProcessIn January, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken …
On Thursday, February 5, just two days after development proposals were received by the city, the St. Petersburg City Council met and voted 6–2 in favor of a resolution calling …
