ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch delivered his second State of the City address Tuesday.

Welch spoke on a number of issues, from education and economic opportunities to affordable housing and the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site.

"It's an exciting time to be in the best city in America," Welch said while starting his speech. 

The mayor then touched on what he called the Pillars For Progress his administration will commit to. Those included business development, economic opportunities, redevelopment, safe neighborhoods and the arts. 

Welch kept a theme of inclusion, diversity and economic growth throughout his address.  

"We will continue to invest in the personnel and infrastructure to keep our city safe," he said. 

The mayor also discussed housing concerns, a hot topic across Pinellas County in recent years.

“We live in a wonderful city but we are not immune from housing costs that are facing cities across the nation,” he said.

Welch said the city has begun development on 282 housing units while more than 800 more are in the funding or approved stage. He added that 155 units have been completed, including the Jordan Park residences and Citrus Grove Apartments.

A key issue remains the redevelopment of the Trop site, which is expected to start later this year.

In 2023, the city partnered with developer Hines to work out a plan for the stadium and the surrounding Gas Plant district.

"We've waited for decades to be in this position and we've never been closer," Welch said of the massive 86-acre Gas Plant District redevelopment project. 

He said the $1.3-billion cost will be exceeded by the benefits the project will bring, including 30 years of property taxes, sales taxes and wages. He added another benefit as well.

"The fulfillment of economic inclusion for the black community and black businesses that were displaced in '78 (for the development of Tropicana Field)."

The mayor also talked a new initiative called the Future Ready Academy. The inaugural class includes 18-year-old Kenneth Hills, who is learning how to operate heavy construction equipment using a simulator at Pinellas Technical College.

“Traditional college wasn’t, I didn’t feel like it was the right course for me," Hills said. "And with this it would give me a nice career with a big head start ahead of a lot of other people.” 

He started the program last week and is one of a dozen selected for the program.

“I’m honored. It’s a really good plan that he has going," Hills said.