ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment agreement with the Rays-Hines Group was released by the city of St. Petersburg on Thursday to give council members two weeks to digest it before the committee of the whole meeting.

What You Need To Know

  • Gas Plant agreement released two weeks before the next St. Petersburg City Council meeting 

  • As part of the agreement, Rays-Hines will pay $105,268,000 for 36 acres

  • If approved, construction will begin early next year

“This has been highly anticipated to get these documents,” said city council member Copley Gerdes. “I’m excited to review what’s been given to us.”

The 184-page agreement was the result of more than six months of negotiations between the city and Rays-Hines. It outlines how they plan to transform the Tropicana Field site and honor the Black residents who were forced out of the Gas Plant area in the 1980s to build the Trop.

The site-plan calls for Rays-Hines to pay $105,268,000 for 36 acres. In Phase One, an African American History Museum would be built along with 1,500 residential units, a 500-room hotel, a Class-A medical office, stores, restaurants and conference space.

If approved, construction would begin early in 2025. Three more phases will be completed with affordable workforce housing, a renewed Booker Creek, at least one daycare, a library, 14 acres of open space, more hotels, medical offices, retail and residential units. The last phase is scheduled to begin in 2035.

“The development will include more affordable and workforce housing than originally proposed, greater assurances for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Disadvantaged Worker participation,” said city spokesperson Erica Riggins. “Additionally, the agreement limits the city’s financial risk by capping infrastructure contributions and making Rays/Hines responsible for all cost overruns.”

The agreement also has economic equity and inclusion, which has been important to Mayor Ken Welch. Rays-Hines will pay $50 million for the Woodson African American Museum, affordable housing, minority business development and workforce training.

“We’ve got a lot of positive feedback throughout the conversation,” said Welch. “I’m really excited about where we are.”

City council members will discuss the proposed Gas Plant redevelopment agreement on May 9.

“I’m excited to have that conversation with all of my colleagues in the sunshine,” Copley said. “I think they’re excited to have that too and I’m looking forward to be able to ask a lot of questions of the Rays. We haven’t been able to do that.”

The Rays-Hines $1.3 billion ballpark development agreement will be discussed at a meeting on May 23. The city council is expected to vote on both agreements in June.