ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With approval from St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday, the plans for a $6.5 billion redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District, including a new stadium for Tampa Bay Rays, took a massive step closer to becoming a reality — but it’s not a done deal quite yet.
Amid the applause in the council chambers after the 5-3 vote came down, was the understanding of the road ahead.
“This is an exciting day for the community,” St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said. “My immediate focus is on the county commission vote,” he added at a later press conference.
While the Rays are “here to stay,” the agreement to build a $1.3 billion state-of-the-art ballpark for the team still hinges on approval from the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, which Rays Principal Owner Stu Sternberg is not taking for granted.
RELATED: St. Petersburg City Council gives approval to Rays stadium project
"Maybe I'll feel different after the vote whenever that takes place,” Sternberg said Thursday.
Commissioners are scheduled to vote July 30 on whether to spend more than $310 million generated from the hotel “bed tax,” a 6% tax levied on hotel or rental room purchases.
That money is set aside and can only be used for promoting tourism in the county and capital improvement projects including beach renourishment, construction on museums and sports stadiums.
RELATED: Commentary: Stadium debates will continue, but we can celebrate Rays remaining in Tampa Bay
We asked the seven Pinellas County commissioners where they stand on the project:
Chair Kathleen Peters told us back on Opening Day: "As long as the agreement has not been altered from my last update, I would support a vote in favor.”
Janet Long, an ardent supporter of the project tells 10 Tampa Bay on Friday she is “thrilled there is finally movement and we can finally get it done."
Charlie Justice is in support of the project and tells 10 Tampa Bay, "Unless we hear something dramatically different than what we have been briefed on, I am supportive of using Tourist Dollars to support St. Petersburg's request."
That would be three votes in favor of the project, with a deciding vote coming from the remaining commissioners, who, right now, say they are still working through the process.
Dave Eggers told us in March, “I am hopeful there is a path forward with respect to finding a deal acceptable to me and on behalf of our residents. However, there is more to learn about the proposed terms and conditions and assumptions of risks…”
Renee Flowers tells 10 Tampa Bay on Friday, “I look forward to the presentation by county staff, the city of St. Petersburg, the Rays management, questions from colleagues and the community. I know the best interests of the county and its residents will remain front and center as it relates to my deliberations and vote."
Chris Latvata said in a text message, “After months of behind the scene briefings and 1 on 1 meetings, I am looking forward to our upcoming Commission meetings later this month where I will ask some of the same questions of staff that I have asked behind the scenes. I will ultimately vote with the best interests of Commission District 5 in mind."
Vice Chair Brian Scott says “We have a workshop next Thursday to discuss the county's decision package. I still have some questions/concerns on the ROI, accountability of Rays/Hines to deliver, and ensuring benefits to the community. Hopefully we can get there.”
That workshop meeting is scheduled for July 25, with a vote set for their meeting on July 30. A majority of commissioners will need to support the spending for this project to become a reality.
If the county signs off on the project, the city and county will then have to work through the permitting and zoning process. The Rays/Hines development group wants shovels in the ground to start 2025, with work starting on the surrounding infrastructure, a parking garage and then the stadium, ready for 2028 opening day. The surrounding development would take nearly 30 years for the full vision to be complete, below is the timeline:
