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The Gas Plant Redevelopment: Why Studying a Convention Center First Is the Wrong Approach
The future of the Gas Plant site is one of the most important urban redevelopment conversations in Pinellas County today.
Recently, I reached out to city and county officials to express my concerns about the growing push to study a convention center as the first step in this process.
Pinellas County Commissioner Vince Nowicki responded thoughtfully, and I’m sharing our exchange—along with my follow-up message – because this conversation belongs in the public spotlight.
First – My letter:
To St. Petersburg Mayor Welch, Pinellas County Administrator Burton, St. Petersburg City Council Members and Pinellas County Commissioners
I understand the City and County may be considering a study for a new convention center. I’m writing to urge you to pause before taking that step — and to consider a broader, more community-centered vision for the Gas Plant site.
A few key reasons to hold off:
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High cost, low return: Convention centers are expensive to build and almost always require large, ongoing public subsidies to operate.
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Uncertain demand: Many (if not most) cities struggle with underused convention facilities that don’t deliver promised economic impacts.
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Better civic opportunities: St. Petersburg has a unique chance to create something more lasting — such as public green space, cultural assets, or a health and research hub.
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Start with a community-led vision: Before studying one specific use, let’s engage the public, outline shared priorities, and plan the site in a way that reflects long-term public interest.
I’ve attached a post I recently wrote on homerunsmatter.com that outlines these concerns and offers a constructive alternative approach. I hope it’s helpful as you weigh next steps.
Second – Pinellas County Commissioner Vince Nowicki’s Response
Dear Mr. Diner,Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I’ve read your post and appreciate that you’re engaging in this discussion. That said, I want to be candid in my response.Let me be clear: I don’t take major public investments lightly. I was one of just two votes against issuing county bonds for the new Rays stadium precisely because I have serious concerns about long-term return, public risk, and the need for stronger community-centered planning. So when I bring up the idea of studying a convention center, it’s not because I’m looking to rush into anything—it’s because I want us to gather real data before making assumptions.Your message calls for holding off on a study, but without offering any actionable or scalable alternative for how to generate year-round economic activity at a site like the Gas Plant. Saying “don’t build it” without showing what to build instead doesn’t move the conversation forward. I’m open to public green space, a cultural anchor, or even a health and innovation district—but we need numbers, partners, and a framework if we want those ideas to be taken seriously.A feasibility study is not a commitment to build anything. It’s a tool to help determine if the idea pencils out—and more importantly, whether it aligns with what the public wants and what the economy supports. That’s the level of due diligence taxpayers deserve.Respectfully, it’s easy to critique. It’s harder to put forward solutions that balance vision with viability. I’m committed to doing the latter, and I welcome others—including you—to help shape that process in a way that puts public interest first.Sincerely,Vince NowickiPinellas County Commissioner
Third – My Response
Dear Commissioner Nowicki (with copies to everyone on my first letter),
Thank you for continuing to engage in this important conversation about the future of the Gas Plant site. Like many in our community, I care deeply about getting this right—not just for today, but for the generations who will inherit what we decide.
We stand at a crossroads. The choices we make now will shape not just the buildings, but the very soul of this neighborhood—and whether it becomes a place of opportunity, inclusion, and healing.
Don’t “Build It and Hope They’ll Come”
The idea of a convention center has re-entered the conversation, but I don’t see any justification for studying a convention center in the abstract, detached from a broader community-driven vision. These kinds of studies often assume economic benefits that fail to materialize and are used to validate decisions that have already been made behind closed doors.
If we’re serious about creating lasting economic value, we need to think beyond one-off anchors. A convention center is not a strategy—it’s a gamble. And it’s the wrong starting point.
We’ve Tried This Before—And It Didn’t Work
We’ve already seen what happens when big decisions are made by a few people behind closed doors, without a true public process. That’s exactly what happened with the baseball stadium.
A few city officials—without the benefit of outside consultants or a Community Advisory Council—decided that building a stadium would bring tourists and generate economic activity – a one-off anchor. It was a bold, hopeful claim. But it wasn’t based on expert analysis or meaningful community input. It was simply what they believed was good for St. Pete.
And it didn’t work.
The economic transformation that was promised never materialized. The surrounding neighborhood remained largely disconnected from the stadium’s benefits. The damage to the Gas Plant community was never repaired. And the public was left holding the bill.
This isn’t about baseball. It’s about the process that led to a deeply flawed decision. Local officials—even with the best of intentions—are not experts in economic development, housing policy, or cultural planning. Nor should they be. But that’s why we need a process that brings in expert, independent perspectives and truly includes the community every step of the way.
A Richer Vision for Economic Activity
There are far more dynamic, layered, and inclusive ways to generate sustainable economic growth on the Gas Plant site:
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Affordable and workforce housing that supports live/work communities
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A small business incubator focused on Black- and locally owned enterprises
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A signature public park and green space with recreational and cultural programming
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Job training hubs and career pathways connected to real workforce demand
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Co-working spaces, artisan workshops, and local manufacturing
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A vibrant food and retail district reflecting the full diversity of St. Pete
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And importantly, a center for the arts and cultural expression
The arts are not an afterthought. Cultural inclusion and artistic spaces are economic engines in their own right—and powerful tools of healing and identity. Imagine a cultural anchor at the site: a Black history museum, community art galleries, or studios for local artists. These ideas don’t just honor the past—they create jobs, draw visitors, and cultivate pride.
What Must Happen First
To unlock this potential, we need a process rooted in trust and shaped by the people who know this community best. That means:
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Establish a Community Advisory Council (CAC):
Composed of displaced Gas Plant families, neighborhood residents, youth, small business owners, faith leaders, and others with a direct stake. This group must help lead—not simply react to—what comes next. -
Engage Independent, Outside Consultants:
Urban planners, economists, equity analysts, artists, and environmental experts—with no stake in any specific outcome—should be hired to evaluate the site’s potential holistically. Their work must reflect not just commercial feasibility, but community benefit. -
Pause Major Commitments:
Before racing toward large-scale projects, let’s listen, study, and test. Let’s invest in public input, and scenario modeling. Let the facts and community voice shape the priorities—not politics or private pressure.
Conclusion
The Gas Plant is more than a parcel of land—it is a symbol of past displacement and a chance for shared renewal. The worst thing we could do now is treat this opportunity like a real estate transaction. This is about people. It’s about justice. It’s about a future we shape together.
There’s no need to study a convention center in a vacuum. There’s a need to study what this place can become with the community fully engaged, with independent expertise, and with imagination.
Let’s begin where every true public process should: by listening.
Form the Community Advisory Council. Bring in outside consultants. Then let’s co-create something worthy of St. Pete.
Fourth – My Message to Local Leaders
To Mayor, City Council, and County Commissioners:
We must not repeat past mistakes. Pause on isolated convention center studies. Instead, form a credible Community Advisory Council, bring in independent experts, and engage in real public planning.
Economic development is not about silver bullets. It’s about building with—and for—the people who live here. This is a moment to lead differently: transparently, inclusively, and humbly.
Fifth – What Should Be Next: Building a Community Advisory Council
In my next post, I will propose a structure and role for a Community Advisory Council that includes diverse stakeholders, clear authority, and ensures the process truly reflects our community’s values and vision.
We only get one chance to get this right. Let’s build a Gas Plant future worthy of its history—and its people.
