Drumroll, please! Here is a sneak peek at some new renderings for the
#HistoricGasPlantDistrict
development plans that will help transform the area into a thriving community and placemaking destination.
Learn more:
Welcome to a whole new game day experience. The design for the ballpark takes cues from a pavilion, with the front porch opening up to a main plaza and community gathering space within the
#HistoricGasPlantDistrict
.
Learn more:
"I want to see many, many more games just like that right here in St. Petersburg."
We set up a video booth and asked
@RaysBaseball
fans to share their favorite memories and what excites them most about the new ballpark. Here's what they said.
In Ep. 7,
@Populous
Principal & Senior Architect Zach Allee shares some unique opportunities to consider when building a new ballpark, what fans can expect and how it will bring the community together even in the offseason.
Coming to one of the games this weekend?
Don't forget to stop by the
#HeretoStay
video booth near Gate 3 and Sections 110/112 to record a short video, learn more about the new ballpark and pick up some
@RaysBaseball
swag!
We're proud to launch our new podcast series, Here to Stay!
In ep. 1,
@neilsolondz
sits down with Ms. Gwendolyn Reese to discuss the area's history and how it plays an important role in the development of the Historic Gas Plant District.
Listen:
This week, meet Clayton Brody. A recent college graduate and current intern with the Tampa Bay Rays, Clayton discusses his thoughts on the development plan and how projects like this can help retain talent in St. Petersburg.
Listen now:
#HeretoStay
Explore why it's so important that the new ballpark be different from any other stadium in Major League Baseball and what features will really set it apart.
This episode,
@Anddrikk
Frazier unpacks the Community Benefits Package that includes $50 million dedicated to intentional equity initiatives including affordable housing, mentorships, employment opportunities and more.
Listen:
#RoyalRumble
brought a record-breaking 48,044 attendees to
@tropicanafield
last month, positioning St. Pete as a must-visit destination on an international stage.
What sets the plans for the new
@raysbaseball
ballpark apart from every other major league counterpart? Dive deeper into what the new renderings reveal.
What does the
#HIstoricGasPlantDistrict
redevelopment project mean to the Poynter Institute? Read the non-profit journalism school and research organization's full letter of support at the link below.
🔗:
Episode 3 of the Here to Stay Podcast features Mayor Welch talking about his strong connection to the historic Gas Plant neighborhood, what he looked for when reviewing the proposals to develop the area, and what it means for the community.
Listen:
Reverend JC Pritchett is President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Florida Inc. and the first African American to serve as President of The Suncoast Tiger Bay Club in its 40+ years history. He now serves as Executive Director.
What does the development plan mean to the Tampa Bay Partnership, a coalition of regional business leaders committed to improving the economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents?
🔗 to full letter of support:
Alex Schapira, a director at Hines and new St. Pete resident, discusses his impressions of the area, how projects like this will become the future of development and what he envisions as St. Petersburg continues to grow into a destination.
This week, President and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership Bemetra Simmons explains the mission of her organization and how rare, large development projects like this one have the opportunity to solidify St. Petersburg as a destination location.
In episode 6, Neil talks to Hines Senior Managing Director Michael Harrison about the company’s history with the Rays, what expertise they bring to the project and their commitment to the advancement of the Historic Gas Plant District.
Listen:
The deal is about a vision for the city that acknowledges the site’s controversial past while securing downtown’s future. It’s about the intangibles that come with hosting one of just 30 Major League Baseball teams. It’s about compromise and tough choices.
ICYMI: After hours of presentations and discussion yesterday, St. Petersburg City Council members voted to approve the Historic Gas Plant District development plan.
Last week, City Council members met for a session regarding the plans to transform the land around Tropicana Field. See what was discussed and the next steps as the project progresses.
Esther Matthews, president of the St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP, has unique insight, as she also served as the chair of the Community Benefits Advisory Council that was tasked with reviewing the development proposal.
In this latest episode, Neil Solondz sits down with Jason Spears, Chair of the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce. Jason shares how this type of development can change the trajectory for businesses like his and others.
🔗:
This week, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Pete Arts Alliance Terry Marks discusses her passion for the arts, the importance of partnerships that help foster artistic growth and creative expression, and what impact the development will have in the local arts community.
Episode 2 of the Here to Stay Podcast has arrived!
This time,
@neilsolondz
chats with Tim Nickens about what fueled the community’s quest to pursue an MLB team in the 1980s, how the team got here and why it means so much that it’s here to stay.
Listen:
"The Rays/Hines proposal to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant district in St. Petersburg will not only shape our skyline but also significantly impact our regional economy and the cultural fabric of our city."
In the latest episode of the Here to Stay podcast series,
@neilsolondz
is joined by Freddy Williams, President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast and Tampa Bay.
Zach Allee, principal and senior architect at Populous, said the overarching goal is creating a place “where people love to be together.”
Get inside the vision for a new ballpark in a recent article from
@stpetecatalyst
.
Take a look at how the community benefits associated with the Historic Gas Plant District development are intentionally designed to honor the past, address current challenges and shape the future of St. Petersburg.
🔗:
This week, Executive Director of the EDGE Business District Association Roger Curlin shares his thoughts on St. Petersburg’s growth over the years, what excites him most about the development project and how he thinks it will impact the trajectory of an already thriving community
Peter Clark, president and founder of
@TampaBayWatch
, shares how 30 years of expertise in environmental protection and restoration can help provide an important perspective to the redevelopment project.
Episode 8 features Arminda Mata, President & CEO of the Tampa Baseball Museum, discussing how baseball became so popular in the area, what it means to the community and why it's so important the team is here to stay.
This week, Everald Colas discusses how learning about the past is helping to inform the design of the new Historic Gas Plant District, what we all can expect to see in the area and how it will bring the community together.
This week's podcast features Dr. Sandra Braham of Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, who also served as a former chair of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. She shares her hopes and dreams for St. Petersburg.
Listen now:
“This project embodies our commitment to securing the economic sustainability of our community by ensuring African American businesses and the wider community benefit significantly from this development.”
- NAACP branch president Esther Matthews
How does the University of South Florida factor into the future of the area? Their leadership is excited about the opportunities that will help advance their mission as a top research institution benefitting faculty, staff, students and the community.
Did you swing by the
#HeretoStay
area at
@RaysBaseball
Fan Fest this weekend?
We had a great time talking to fans about the development plan. A big thanks to everyone who participated in the mural activation and Q&A!
Want to learn more about the exciting plans for the new state-of-the-art ballpark and transformational surrounding area? Listen to
@raysradio
’s special
#heretostay
podcast episode, out now!
🎙️ 🎙️
This week, President & CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay Thomas Mantz shares the meaning behind the organization’s mission to ‘be hunger-free,’ how this development project can have positive ripple effects on the community and his hopes for the future.
What makes the plan to develop the Historic Gas Plant District a win-win for
@StPeteFL
? Will Conroy, founder and president of St. Petersburg-based Backstreets Capital, shares his analysis.
How is the future ballpark being designed to be responsive to St. Petersburg's needs? Ensuring environmental resiliency is front and center in the development's planning process.
“We’ve brainstormed together what the new district can provide St. Pete in terms of a venue for showcase events. It is designed to accommodate a range of events, from small conferences to large festivals."
#StPete
|
#HeretoStay