Four Plans for Tropicana Field Redevelopment, Including Rays Pitch, Received by St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, in collaboration with Pinellas County, is looking towards the future of Tropicana Field with the potential addition of a convention center. The city’s Development Administrator, James Corbett, is working on assessing four proposed plans that all feature a new Rays ballpark, a mix of residential, business, and retail establishments, as well as multiple hotels.
Exploring the Potential Developments
Each of the proposed plans includes a focus on affordable housing, dedicating 17.3 acres for a baseball stadium, and paying homage to the Gas Plant District’s history. The area was previously home to a Black community that was displaced four decades ago to make room for Tropicana Field.
The comprehensive plan consists of building an intermodal center, a stacked mixed-use and technology park, a convention center hotel with guest room towers, the African American History & Cultural Museum, and Gas Plant Memorial Park. The proposal also outlines the option of constructing a new retractable roof baseball stadium or enhancing the existing Tropicana Field.
Future Vision for Tropicana Field Site
The plans provide the city with a strategic framework for making well-informed decisions as development opportunities arise and evolve in the local market. The full buildout includes cultural elements, office buildings, a research and technology center, convention and hotel facilities, neighborhood retail spaces, as well as both affordable and market-rate housing options.
The redevelopment project will kick off with an exhibition showcasing St. Petersburg through the ages from 5 to 6 p.m., featuring collaborations with organizations like Zulu Painter, Pinellas County Schools, and Reimagine 175.
Conclusion of Trop Talk Series
In the final installment of Trop Talk series, The Catalyst will delve into and compare the seven proposals submitted for the Tropicana Field site, focusing on meeting redevelopment needs in areas such as commercial and office space, housing, transportation, parks, and hotel and convention center spaces.
The Tropicana Field site, spanning 86 acres in St. Petersburg, is set to undergo a staggering $3 billion redevelopment in the upcoming years. The city will review the seven proposed development plans that encompass a blend of recreational, commercial, and residential blueprints, with each proposal presenting options with and without a stadium.
Furthermore, the agreement emphasizes the importance of conducting due diligence concerning the Oaklawn Cemetery, which once existed on the land now occupied by Tropicana Field’s Lot 1. The Rays and Hines have committed to ensuring that 15% of total construction hours and related services will be carried out by disadvantaged workers and apprentices.
