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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
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?
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.
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 – …
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? …
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 …
