ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A separate council in charge of providing recommendations to St. Pete on its plans for the Historic Gas Plant District approved its draft late Tuesday.
The Community Benefits Advisory Council talked largely about the need to maximize affordable housing, along with honoring descendants of the Historic Gas Plant District after the community was razed to make room for Tropicana Field.
Mayor Ken Welch said his administration is focused on honoring the past, growing up in the neighborhood himself, and boosting affordable housing through the deal with the Rays and Hines. However, some advocate groups fear the current plans prioritize the ballpark, not the community.
"We've been left out from the start," said Alexa Manning, who was born and raised in St. Pete.
Members of the advisory council had several proposed ideas including speeding up the timeline to build some affordable housing units by the year 2028. In addition, increasing cash penalties for units built on schedule.
"It is a priority for us," Mayor Ken Welch said after his State of the City address last week.
The advisory council had been meeting weekly leading up to the final meeting on Tuesday before their drafted recommendations go to the city council for review.
The $6 billion investment promises 4,800 residential and 1,200 affordable housing units to the area, as well as 50,000 square feet of non-profit community space, and improving 14 acres of parks and open space for the city.
Over the next 30 years, Welch's report estimates $535 million in new property taxes for the city and more than $1 billion for the county.
The deal should also provide 32,900 new full-time construction jobs, and offer 11,000 permanent full and part-time jobs, as well.
Pinellas County leaders must also approve the deal. The goal is to break ground in the second half of the year.