ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The push to revitalize Tangerine Plaza and bring a grocery store to a city food desert took a step forward Thursday.

Council members voted 5-3 to approve a resolution that allows the mayor to execute an option agreement and a lease and development agreement with Sugar Hill Group LLC.

The group won the bid to redevelop the plaza on 22nd St. S. four years ago. Walmart left the plaza in 2017 and previous tenant, Sweetbay, went out of business in 2013.

What You Need To Know

  • St. Petersburg City Council approved a resolution Thursday that allows the mayor to execute an option agreement and a lease and development agreement with Sugar Hill Group for the redevelopment of Tangerine Plaza

  • The option agreement lays out terms for Sugar Hill Group. They include giving the team 18 months to secure funding, find a contractor, and get a grocer to commit to the site

  • Sugar Hill Group plans to build at least 115 affordable housing units and a grocery store

  • Read previous coverage here

"We've been patient. We've been doing everything that the city has asked of us, and we're just excited to be to this place, at this time," said Pastor Louis Murphy, a partner in Sugar Hill Group.

Gas Plant LLC, started by Murphy and Binger Financial CEO Roy Binger, partnered with New Urban Development out of Miami to form Sugar Hill Group. Plans for the site include at least 115 affordable housing units and a grocery store.

"It is essential. You have a housing shortage, and this is a food desert," Murphy said.

The option agreement lays out a number of terms for Sugar Hill Group to meet. It includes giving the team 18 months to secure funding, find contractors, and get a grocer to commit to at least five years on the site. Murphy said talks have already started.

"It is our prayer, and I really mean prayer as a pastor, that we can partner with Detwiler's supermarket," he said.

Detwiler's Farm Market currently has locations in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Murphy said the goal is to make the plaza a destination.

"We want to create foot traffic so people will come into the community, spend dollars so that it can just invigorate the community," he said.

One lifelong community member who is followed the project said Sugar Hill Group has done an excellent job in moving their plan forward.

Kenneth Mack lives just blocks from Tangerine Plaza, in the house his family first moved into when he was 3 years old. While he lived out of state for many years, he said he visited the area often and is very familiar with the property. Mack said he doesn't think the project is right for this area.

"I'm concerned about how these existing businesses are going to continue to do their business once this property is demolished," Mack said of establishments near the former Walmart grocery store, which closed in 2017.

Mack said the affordable housing is also a concern, including when it comes to where residents will park and what any possible parking structures could mean.

"That might attract behaviors and others in the community that might present problems," said Mack.

Murphy and Binger said the goal is for the project to be just the start of an economic boost for the area.

"You're going to see a chain reaction," said Binger. "That's what really drives economic development is, you know? As soon as somebody sees other investors, other retailers, they start to come in.

Binger said the next step is putting together a funding plan.