City of St. Petersburg has released a request for proposals for the historic Gas Plant site, currently home to Tropicana Field and parking areas totaling about 86-acres. The final day for proposer questions during the RFP process is Nov. 14.
“This is an historic opportunity for our city to utilize a generational redevelopment opportunity to ensure equitable opportunity for all residents, visitors, businesses and stakeholders,” said St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch.
The new 33-page calls for additional emphasis on equitable redevelopment, a 17.3-acre carve out for a baseball stadium and specific requirements for affordable and workforce housing on the site.
The tentative schedule includes a pre-proposal meeting on Sept. 12 to include an overview of the site and relevant planning efforts and brief presentations regarding: history of the site, equitable economic development, transportation, public works, environmental conditions, housing, sustainability, development services, private sector input, questions and answers and site information.
One of the biggest changes in this RFP as compared to the previous request issued in 2020 is a specific requirement for affordable and workforce housing.
Successful proposals will prioritize housing affordability, maximize the number of affordable and workforce units on site, and demonstrate significant positive impact for St. Petersburg residents.
Innovative solutions to address the city’s housing goals and this site should include a mix of housing that addresses the needed supply for very-low income, low-income, moderate-income, and middle-income households.
Proposers must “look towards additional solutions, such as providing affordable and workforce units off-site; partnering with other entities to provide additional units off-site, including rental and ownership product; and/or making a financial contribution to the construction of affordable units citywide.”
One of the biggest changes in this RFP as compared to the previous request issued in 2020 is a specific requirement for affordable and workforce housing.
Successful proposals will prioritize housing affordability, maximize the number of affordable and workforce units on site, and demonstrate significant positive impact for St. Petersburg residents.
The city is looking for “innovative solutions to address housing goals and this site should include a mix of housing that addresses the needed supply for very-low income, low-income, moderate-income, and middle-income households,” according to the RFP.
“Proposers are encouraged to look towards additional solutions, such as providing affordable and workforce units off-site; partnering with other entities to provide additional units off-site, including rental and ownership product; and/or making a financial contribution to the construction of affordable units citywide.
The mayor says “with this RFP, our city now has the opportunity to fulfill those unrealized promises and bring to St. Petersburg new attainable housing, equitable business opportunities, office space, meeting space, open space and overall equitable and impactful economic development that benefits all.”
The RFP also calls for proposals that include accommodations for an integrated new, state-of-the-art baseball stadium, a change from the previous RFP that included plans both with and without a stadium.
Public input painted a clear vision for community goals and priorities for this site, the mayor said, adding that feedback is reflected throughout the document.
Gas Plant District redevelopment represents a crucial opportunity to create an inclusive and equitable economic engine by utilizing intentional equity as a guiding principle.
Proposers are invited to respond to this RFP as private developers or as part of a development team. Responses are due November 18, 2022 at 10:00am.
All qualified proposals will be presented to Mayor Kenneth T. Welch for consideration and selection based on criteria defined in the RFP. Mayor Welch may select a proposal without discussion if it is determined to be in the public interest for intended site use.
