A lot of big promises have been made in regard to redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site in St. Petersburg, and Mayor Rick Kriseman says residents will know even more by this week.
In a Friday memo to St. Petersburg City Council Chair Ed Montanari, Kriseman said he’ll narrow the four finalists down to two by Friday.
Kriseman’s memo says that after he selects two finalists, his office will ask more questions about proposals. A yet to be scheduled committee will also appear before St. Pete City Council to make a presentation and answer more questions from council members regarding remaining proposals.
After that, Kriseman—term-limited, with November elections approaching quickly—said, “an offer will be extended to the Rays to meet with the two teams in order that the two finalists might make a presentation regarding their proposals, how the team and developer chosen can work together and coordinate the stadium location/construction and answer any questions the Rays have regarding their proposals.”
The announcement comes after council pumped the brakes on redevelopment of the Trop site to see what the Rays ultimately wanted to do as far as staying in the area, leaving or splitting the season with Canada.
In his memo, Kriseman told Montanari that he believes council and the city can move forward with selecting a developer and renewing negotiations with the Rays at the same time.
Alluding to a complicated desire to try and amend the wrongs committed with the destruction of Black neighborhoods at the Trop site (formerly known as the Gas Plant), Kriseman said he believes any delay would hurt any redevelopment’s chance at “the creation of thousands of good paying jobs for the community along with the creation of thousands of units of housing that's affordable.”
As previously reported by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and other outlets, the promise of jobs and affordable housing is a complicated matter, but Kriseman’s memo is a strong signal that an unofficial fifth option—waiting—is not really on the table.
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This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2021.