It’s time to move on from the Downtown CRA — The Stadium Deal Is Dead
As we reported seven months ago, sunsetting the St. Petersburg Downtown CRA sounded good then — and it sounds even better now.
(The yellow area in the map above shows the boundaries of the St. Peterburg’s Intown CRA.)
At a recent City Council meeting, a motion passed directing city and county administrators to begin discussions on ending the Intown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) early — moving its expiration from 2042 to 2032 or sooner.
Council Member Richie Floyd initiated the discussion, saying:
“Just rolling it back to 2032 is already a compromise, because I have some real moral qualms with it existing anymore — like past today.”
And Council Member Brandi Gabbard captured what many feel:
“It’s a prioritization of funding that is being held hostage in one area. We are going to need additional funding to meet the needs of residents citywide. … It made sense at the time for that specific project. I don’t believe it makes sense anymore.”
(Quotes via the St. Pete Catalyst)
What Is a CRA — and Why Was It Created?
A Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) is a district created under Florida’s Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 to fight blight and encourage economic growth when certain conditions exist:
Blight and deterioration – vacant or dilapidated buildings
Economic hardship – low property values or high unemployment
Infrastructure gaps – inadequate roads, water, or sewer systems
Safety issues – high crime or poor public safety
When the Intown CRA was established, downtown St. Petersburg met those criteria. But it doesn’t anymore.
Today, downtown is thriving — alive with investment, residents, and visitors. The area no longer suffers from blight or economic decline. The very success of redevelopment has erased the original justification for the CRA.
The Stadium Deal Is Dead — and So Is the CRA’s Rationale
The largest planned use of CRA funds was a $421 million commitment ($287.5 million plus interest) for a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.
That stadium deal is now dead.
Without the stadium or the original redevelopment conditions, there’s no reason to keep the CRA alive. Continuing it diverts millions that could address affordable housing, infrastructure, and community priorities citywide.
As Council Member Gabbard put it, “We are going to need additional funding to meet the needs of residents citywide.” That starts with freeing up dollars locked in downtown.
Why Ending the CRA Makes Sense
Fairness — Citywide tax revenues should serve all neighborhoods, not just downtown.
Reality — The downtown CRA’s mission was achieved; the area is no longer blighted.
Fiscal Responsibility — Roughly $15–20 million per year can be redirected to higher-need areas.
Closure — The stadium deal’s collapse ends the CRA’s final justification.
The Path Forward
The CRA’s success story should now become a transition story — one where St. Petersburg focuses on equitable growth, strong neighborhoods, and reinvestment across the city.
It’s time to sunset the CRA — and move on.
Downtown St. Petersburg doesn’t need a redevelopment subsidy anymore. The rest of the city does.
Credit is due to Council Members Richie Floyd and Brandi Gabbard for standing up for what matters most to St. Petersburg’s citizens — fairness, fiscal responsibility, and keeping the city’s priorities focused on people, not projects.
