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 gives up at least $1 billion in public value and loses long-term control by moving forward without a City-led plan.
Cities across the country understand this.
Former mayors understand it.
Civic organizations understand it.
And national planners have told me directly: when cities let developers define the future of major public land before a plan exists, cities lose value and control.
City Council has heard this concern from residents as well. More than a hundred people have already written to say the same thing.
Why This Is About $1 Billion — and Control
Once the Gas Plant site is properly planned, it represents at least $1 billion in long-term public value.
That is why developers are interested.
They see the site as a gold mine.
And that is exactly why the City must keep the gold.
If the City commits the land through a proposal-first process, that value moves out of public hands. Once that happens, it cannot be undone.
And if control is lost and a developer later stalls or fails, the City is left with empty land — and no leverage.
Even Developers Know the Better Approach
I also shared something else with City Council.
Members of the development community — including some who may submit proposals — have told me they agree on a basic point.
They believe the City can, and should:
plan the site first
bring in national planning expertise
form a strong Community Advisory Council
design streets, blocks, and public spaces
then sell land parcel by parcel, over time, at full market value
The reason proposals are moving forward now is simple.
The door was opened to them.
That is a process problem, not a market problem.
Why City Council Must Act Now
There is only one way to stop this path.
City Council must stop it.
One Council member needs to say — clearly and publicly:
We will not approve a process that gives away $1 billion in public assets.
Any deal from a proposal-first approach will be rejected.
We will only move forward once the City plans first.
Those words must then be followed by a formal motion and a vote, so the position is clear and on the public record.
That is not extreme.
That is responsible governance.
The Mayor brings proposals.
City Council’s job is to protect the City.
If Council does not draw this line now, a deal will come later under heavy pressure — political pressure, time pressure, and financial pressure.
By then, the City will have lost time and leverage.
Why This Money Matters
This issue matters because the City has limited resources.
Protecting long-term value at the Gas Plant site helps St. Petersburg invest in what truly matters:
affordable housing
after-school and summer programs for kids who need us most
job training and workforce development
protection from future hurricanes
keeping pressure off taxes, rents, and utility bills
That is what this billion dollars is for.
That is what is at stake.
And that is why City Council was elected.
What You Can Do
If you agree the City should plan first and protect long-term public value, City Council members still need to hear that support.
Short, personal messages — written in your own words — make a real difference.
This is a once-in-a-generation decision.
Now is the moment to get it right.
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For readers who want more background, this longer letter explains why a plan-first approach protects public value at the Gas Plant site.
