The Gas Plant, Part Three: Keeping Redevelopment on Track for DecadesThis is the third post in a series on the future of the Gas Plant site.Post one explained that the …
@2024 – No Home Run
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Spectrum News / Bay News 9 reports today that Ken Welch is defending his approach to redeveloping the Historic Gas Plant District — a proposal-first approach that would sell the …
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Fairness First Means Planning First — Before Any Property Is SoldWhat is happening right nowThe City is currently reviewing private developer proposals for the future of the former Gas Plant …
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The Gas Plant, Part Two: Why Selling the Entire Site at Once Is Too Risky — and Could Cost the City More Than $1 BillionA quick clarification up frontWhen I …
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Conceptual master plan image from the City of St. Petersburg’s 2018 Tropicana Field planning study prepared by HKS.This City-commissioned planning work shows the kind of plan-first approach St. Petersburg has …
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READ THIS IF YOU DON’T READ ANYTHING ELSEThese “developers” are largely assembling the same teams of planners and experts that the City can—and should—hire directly.So ask yourself:Why do we need …
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Earlier today, I spoke at City Hall about the future of the Gas Plant site.This decision is not about whether the site should be developed.It is about whether St. Petersburg …
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The Gas Plant – Letter St. Petersburg City Council Executive SummaryThe Gas Plant site is one of the most valuable pieces of publicly owned land in St. Petersburg and presents a once-in-a-generation …
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Update: A detailed letter has now been shared with City Council explaining why a City-led, plan-first process is essential before any Gas Plant proposals move forward. [Read the full letter …
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Before You BeginThis post explains exactly what must happen, what you need to do today, and why the timing matters.SUMMARY OF KEY FACTSWhat’s happening right nowThe Tropicana Field site covers …
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A proposal-first approach for the Gas Plant locks in low value, concentrates risk, and excludes the public. City Council must pause the rush and insist on planning first.
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St. Petersburg’s identity is rooted in the arts. As the city plans the future of the 86-acre Gas Plant site, integrating our cultural strengths isn’t optional—it’s essential to creating a …
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Gas Plant - After the Trop
Tangerine Plaza’s Troubles Show Why St. Pete Must Plan First at the Gas Plant
Tangerine Plaza Shows Why St. Petersburg Must Plan First at the Gas PlantTangerine Plaza is stalled again. It looks like the developer did not have the track record, the financing, …
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Stop the 30-Day Process. Don’t Replace It With 90 Days. Plan First.Update – November 2025: Council Member Richie Floyd is planning to present a resolution at the City Council meeting …
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Before inviting developers, the City must adopt a real redevelopment plan first.Update – November 2025: This revised version clarifies that while §163.380 doesn’t explicitly say the 30-day process (discussed below) …
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The City’s decision to open a 30-day window for new Gas Plant proposals makes little sense. The 86-acre site deserves planning, not a race. Before entertaining more offers, St. Petersburg …
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It’s time to move on from the Downtown CRA — The Stadium Deal Is DeadAs we reported seven months ago, sunsetting the St. Petersburg Downtown CRA sounded good then — …
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Developers Are Already Making OffersBut selling now undervalues the land, locks in a single vision, and leaves the community without a voice.The Tampa Bays Times recently reported that developer Casey …
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Mayor Welch wants to get going on a museumSt. Pete Rising reports that the Woodson African American Museum of Florida has revealed renderings for a new museum. It is an …
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Facts don’t matter – AgainThe city of Washington D.C. is about to spend $1 billion toward the cost of a $3.7 billion 65,000-seat football stadium for the Washington Commanders – …
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Fixing Beaches Is Expensive The Tampa Bay Times reports that, for the first time since 2018, Pinellas County is finally renourishing its beaches. The cost? A whopping $125 million. And …
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John Morgan Is for the people – when it comes to stadiums The Tampa Bay Times ran the story: “John Morgan no longer for the people of Orlando in baseball …
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Why Stadium Subsidies Fail Communities Every Time I don’t get it – when will cities ever learn to follow the facts, not the hype, and win in the long run? …
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Mayor Welch says he wants the facts about a new convention center. Here they are: if there’s real demand, private developers will step up—without a taxpayer-funded study. Let’s let the …
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Studying a convention center first at the Gas Plant risks repeating past mistakes that displaced residents and yielded little return. Ron Diner urges a transparent, community‑driven plan that puts housing, green …
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Florida’s education system is in crisis—nearly half of students can’t read or do math at grade level. As the Gas Plant site is redeveloped, we have a chance to invest …
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Gas Plant - After the Trop
Don’t “Build It and Hope They’ll Come”: Why a Convention Center Isn’t the Answer for the Gas Plant
St. Pete has a rare chance to reimagine the Gas Plant District. But talk of building a convention center – before a master plan even exists – skips the most …
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The Last Thing St. Pete Needs Is a Trop Extension What do very hot weather, hurricanes, Tropicana Field, the Rays, John Romano and $5 billion have to do with each …
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Let’s not get the cart before the horse. No development until we have a plan for all 86 acres. We need to get this right. In my last post, The …
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The Gas Plant – What it was – What it is – What it can be A Community-Centered Approach to a Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity An Independent View from Home Runs Matter …
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Issues that matter
The hidden risk of speaking at St. Pete City Council: Why privacy must be protected
Request to End the Public Disclosure of Names and Addresses During Public Comment at St. Petersburg City Council meetings As I have written about previously, I think the current St. …
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This Is Our Moment: A Vision Worth Exploring, A Plan Worth Getting Right In the heart of St. Pete, we have a chance to create something great. The Gas Plant …
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Gas Plant - After the Trop
This Is Our Moment: A Bold, People-First Vision to Transform the Gas Plant into St. Pete’s Next Great Legacy
A chance of a lifetime Let’s Get the Gas Plant Right With the Tampa Bay Rays moving on after their lease ends, the city of St. Petersburg regains full control of …
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From No Home Run to Home Runs Matter: A New Chapter in Civic Possibility If you’ve been following NoHomeRun, you know it started as a way to highlight what we …
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Half and Half? A Half-Baked IdeaIn his column, Graham Brink, the Opinion Editor at the Tampa Bay Times, recently wrote about a wild idea: a two-city plan to keep the …
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Stadiums Over Sewers? St. Pete’s Priorities Are Broken $1.6 Billion for Baseball While Toilets Back Up While sewage bubbles up in our streets and king tides creep into neighborhoods, five …
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Eighty-One Miles and a Promise It got me thinking about St. Pete. On Sunday, I rode my bike 81 miles. I road 80 last year so you can probably guess …
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Why Are We Still Requiring People to Share Their Addresses at City Council Meetings?Florida lawmakers are moving to protect elected officials from harassment. One proposed bill would keep their home …
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Why are we not negotiating (or renegotiating) with the Rays before fixing Tropicana Field?The Rays Stadium Deal is DeadThe agreement between the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Petersburg for a …
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A great opportunity for St. PetersburgThe stadium deal with the Rays is now off the table. The team has said the deal with St. Petersburg and Pinellas County is now …
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Gwendolyn Reese discussed the Rays Hines development proposal for the Historic Gas Plant District in St. Petersburg Florida
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St. Petersburg Intown CRA: Time for a New Chapter? At the March 27, 2025, City Council meeting, Council Member Richie Floyd is raising a pivotal question: Is it time to …
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I ran into a friend today who congratulated me on the Rays deal falling through in St. Pete. But this was never about me—it’s about a win for the city. …
