ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Now that the Rays stadium deal is dead, many are wondering what will eventually happen to the 86-acre Gas Plant District that Tropicana Field sits on.

A community discussion was hosted on Tuesday by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Times, which featured wide-ranging conversations on what people hope to see.

What You Need To Know

  • The Tampa Bay Times and Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg held a panel conversation discussing what the future should be for the Gas Plant District

  • It was an hour and a half discussion that featured local residents, educators and experts in land development and construction

  • Lots of ideas were thrown around, like adding hotel space, or a park, or something like Boston Commons up in New England

  • Throughout the conversation, a major point that got support from the crowd would be that this space, whatever it becomes, honors the past and shows the vibrancy of St. Pete

“We want to see what the re-discussions of it are, and we consider ourselves a stakeholder in those 86 acres that we’re going to be talking about here,” Pinellas Remembers president Danny E. White said.

His organization works with the Equal Justice Initiative to recognize past horrific racial incidents inflicted upon people in the county.

“It’s very important for us to be here to show that we have skin in the game, if you will,” White said.

It matters to him and hundreds of other people attending the panel discussion on what the future should be for the land that’s once again facing an uncertain future.

Lots of ideas were thrown around, like adding hotel space, or a park, or something like Boston Commons up in New England.

“It is hard to see (the Rays) go,” said Jillian Bandes of ULI Tampa Bay. “But I understand that may have to happen, and we may have to engage with other stakeholders and pursue other priorities.”

St. Petersburg resident of nearly 30 years Kay-Kay Smith says her goal is to see an equitable outcome for this space, so it benefits everyone in the city.

“I have a vested interest in the community. It is my prayer that equity happens,” Smith said, “that it is equity for all, and opportunity for the entire community.”

Regardless, as panelist Peter Kageyama put, “anything is better than a parking lot and an ugly stadium.”

The hour and a half discussion was moderated by the Tampa Bay Times as part of their “Spotlight Tampa Bay” series.