Next Thursday, the City of St. Petersburg is throwing open the doors of The Coliseum for an open house and a round of developer presentations on the future of the Historic Gas Plant District. It is being pitched as a one‑stop shop to meet the four shortlisted teams vying to remake the 86‑acre Tropicana Field site and to size up competing visions for housing, culture and public space. City officials say residents will be able to check out renderings, ask questions and offer feedback during the evening session.
📣 Your voice matters for the future of the Historic Gas Plant District!
Join us on April 30 at The Coliseum to meet the four shortlisted developers & learn about their proposals.
🕔 Open house: 5 p.m.
🎤 Developer presentations: 6 p.m.
🔗 City of St. Petersburg
According to the City of St. Petersburg’s post on X, doors open at 5 p.m., with developer presentations starting at 6 p.m. The announcement frames the Coliseum event as a public forum to “meet the four shortlisted developers” and review the initial proposals submitted through the city’s land‑disposition process. In other words, this is the night when residents get to kick the tires on the big ideas.
What Is At Stake For The Gas Plant District
The Historic Gas Plant District is the 86‑acre tract that includes Tropicana Field and land that was once a vibrant Black neighborhood displaced in the 1980s. That history has shaped expectations for restorative investment and cultural recognition. As reported by WUSF, community leaders and preservation advocates have repeatedly stressed affordable housing, a new Woodson African American Museum and strong community benefits as top priorities for any redevelopment. That legacy is a key reason the city is treating public engagement as central to the selection process, not just a box to check.
The Finalists The City Says You Will Meet
The four teams the city has advanced to the finalist round are 50 Plus 1 Sports; Hines working with the Tampa Bay Rays; Restoration Associates; and Sugar Hill Community Partners, according to local coverage of the final proposals. FOX 13 has published breakdowns of each submission and how the teams say they would reshape the site.
Big Differences In Scale And Focus
The plans span a wide spectrum, from multi‑billion‑dollar district visions with conference centers and stadium anchors to locally led bids that emphasize large park space, museum infrastructure and deep affordable‑housing commitments. St. Pete Catalyst has summarized proposals that include an $8.1 billion local plan centered on a 13‑acre central park and a purpose‑built Woodson museum, alongside other teams’ mixed‑income housing and transit‑oriented concepts. As the selection process moves forward, city reviewers will be listening for specific, enforceable commitments on community benefits and housing delivery, not just glossy renderings.
How To Take Part
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater lists The Coliseum at 535 4th Ave. N., which will serve as the venue for the meeting. Organizers recommend arriving early for the 5 p.m. open house and staying for the 6 p.m. presentations. City staff will be on hand to collect feedback and share materials that will help inform the next phase of review and negotiation over what comes next for the Historic Gas Plant District.
