Site work and new construction of a mixed-use development in St Petersburg, Florida. Conceptual plans call for the construction of a multi-residential development; and retail development.

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2023/12/15/here-s-a-sampling-of-real-estate-market-forecasts.html Florida creativity: Developers statewide are looking to niche industries like aerospace or data centers (to facilitate AI growth) as office struggles and apartment rent growth slows, the Wall St. Journal reported earlier this month. Hines, which is working with the Rays to redevelop Tropicana Field, has another $500 million project with Key Group, a 450-acre property in Titusville, a short drive from Cape Canaveral. Rockets and spaceships are difficult and costly to transport to launch sites by road or rail, a Wall St. Journal report said, so the partners are betting on the demand for storage and manufacturing facilities close to launch pads. ________________ https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2023/12/08/st-pete-seeks-input-on-hgpd-community-benefits.html St. Petersburg is asking residents to weigh in on community benefits for the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment project. The proposal from the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston-based development firm Hines for the development of the 86 acres in downtown St. Pete includes a $50 million commitment to "intentional equity." In January, the Community Benefits Advisory Council will begin its project review to "advise Mayor Kenneth T. Welch, City Council, and the citizens of St. Pete on the community benefits" associated with the project. During those CBAC meetings, the public will have the opportunity to comment and share their opinion on the proposed benefits. The meetings will be: Jan. 9 Jan. 16 Jan 23 Jan. 30 The city is hosting a Community Benefits Information Session at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 at The Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, to bring the public up to speed on what is being proposed in the transformative project. During the meeting, Hines/Rays team members will detail their plan. According to the city, "details on how the public will be able to provide their input on this portion of the project are forthcoming." Some of the proposed community benefits for the project include affordable and workforce housing, public open space, sustainability, public parking, transportation improvements, small-, minority- and women-owned business participation, and a $50 million intentional equity commitment, according to the city. The $50 million intentional equity commitment will include: $17.5 million dedicated to supporting "currently operating educational programs in South St. Petersburg." This also includes building a new Booker Music Hall venue and a new Woodson African American Museum. $15 million dedicated to existing St. Pete programs that "support housing opportunities at a wide range of affordability levels" $13 million dedicated to supporting "business incubation, ownership and placement opportunities on the site, with a focus on minority/women-owned businesses and current South St. Petersburg residents and businesses" ____________ https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2023/11/16/st-pete-selects-rays-architect-for-new-ballpark.html St. Petersburg has unanimously selected Populous as the architect for the new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark after the only other finalist pulled out of the running. An evaluation committee met Wednesday at the Campbell Park Recreation Center to rank the final two proposals -- Populous and MEIS architects -- to determine which group would be responsible for the architectural services for the $1.3 billion stadium that is planned for the Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete. The stadium -- part of the 86-acre Gas Plant development -- will be the top priority for the team if the project receives final approval from the city and county. St. Petersburg City Council is expected to vote on the development agreement in March 2024. The goal, according to the Rays, is to have the new stadium built for opening day 2028. Populous was dubbed the "ballpark architect" in the Rays' and Houston-based development firm Hines' proposal. Both groups were to give a 30-minute presentation to the evaluation committee prior to their final rankings. However, Dan Meis, managing principal and founder of MEIS architects, wrote a letter on Nov. 7 to St. Petersburg's procurement office saying they had decided to "decline to participate." Meis wrote the 30-minute presentation format was not "adequate time" to explain their group's strengths and qualifications. "We have also seen and heard how devoted the Rays are to their long relationship with Populous and how committed the city is to supporting this partnership, and thus respectfully withdraw our team from consideration," Meis wrote. "We hope you will value however that a team of our caliber was extremely interested in your project." He wrote that while they appreciated the opportunity to compete, it is "sometimes the case in our industry that a qualified team is so far out in front, it makes it extremely difficult for those other teams to justify the investment to throw their hat in the ring for consideration." He added that he trusts the city is in "good hands" with Populous. Now that a firm has been selected, the Rays will begin contract negotiations with the group. __________ In general, the existing HGPD consists of Tropicana Field and the supporting infrastructure which includes but is not limited to surface parking lots, a major north-to-south drainage feature known as Booker Creek, a portion of the Pinellas Trail, and various public rights-of-way. Several private parcels, not included in the competitive RFP process, coexist in the HGPD. Within the existing rights-of-way are public infrastructure generally consisting of paved roadways, traffic control devices, concrete curbs and gutters, sidewalks, landscaping and hardscape features, underground storm sewer, and underground utilities (potable water, sanitary sewer, and reclaimed water). Various private utilities also coexist with the public rights-of-way including but not limited to Duke Electric, TECO Gas and various telecom/fiber providers. Deadline for Questions:December 13, 2023, 12:00pm Deadline for Question Response:December 15, 2023, 12:00pm