05.13.2024

Today’s Forecast

A look at the future

Plans for the redeveloped Gas Plant District are here

An overhead look at the transformed Gas Plant District includes a new stadium, multiple towers, and green space.

Leaders envision multiple uses for the transformed area. | Rendering via Hines

Last week, the Tampa Bay Rays + Hines presented their redevelopment plan to St. Pete City Council.

The $6.5 billion dollar project — which includes a $1.3 billion new stadium — was detailed in an 184-page document and discussed at a nine-hour workshop. Beyond the new stadium, the redevelopment will turn the 86 acres, which was once the Historic Gas Plant District, into a new neighborhood with a hotel, housing, green space, and more.

“Our mission is to create a great place for St. Pete,” said Hines Senior Managing Director Michael Harrison in a release. “Placemaking is more than combining office, apartments and retail into the same block. It is creating a place that focuses on the human experience.”

Now that the dust has settled... we’re digging into what the transformation looks like before the City Council votes on the plan.

A peek at the new public spaces.
|
Rendering via Hines

What will the rest of the neighborhood look like?

5,400 residential units including 1,250 affordable + workforce housing units
A pedestrian bridge over I-275
A new Woodson African American Museum of Florida
750 hotel rooms
90,000 sqft of conference, ballroom and meeting space
A library
1.4 million sqft of office + medical space
750,000 sqft of retail space, including opportunities for small businesses and a grocery store
14 acres of green + open space
A 4,000-6,000 seat concert + entertainment venue

In the words of Jed Bartlet, what’s next?

After the lengthy discussion, the St. Pete City Council’s next meeting on the project was pushed from Thursday, May 23 to sometime in June. In the meantime, the council will pore over the “complex” agreements, according to the St. Pete Catalyst.

The current plan states that the Rays will take the field at the new stadium in 2028, but the rest of the project’s construction could take up to 30 years, according to WUSF.

Asked

Which part of the project are you most excited for?

A. The stadium, duh
B. The music venue
C. The hotel/housing
D. The museum + parks

There's no wrong answer

Events

Monday, May 13

Wines of Central Italy | Monday, May 13 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Thrive DTSP, 136 4th St. N., Ste. 201, St. Petersburg | $49 | Sip on wines from regions like Tuscany, Umbria, and Le Marche paired with light bites meant to complement each glass.

Tuesday, May 14

Master Gardener: Gardening with Native Plants | Tuesday, May 14 | 7-8 p.m. | New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa | Free | Dig into the native landscaping deets with this session led by the University of Florida/Hillsborough County Extension Service.
Indigo Girls: “It’s Only Life After All” | Tuesday, May 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa | $10-$12 | Longtime fans of the iconic folk-rock band + music lovers alike will love this 2024 deep-dive documentary.

Wednesday, May 15

“The Smuggler: A Thriller in Verse” | Wednesday, May 15-Sunday, June 9 | Times vary | Shimberg Playhouse, 1010 N. Macinnes Pl., Tampa | $25 | This one-man, rhyming-verse dark comedy follows an Irish immigrant in America who meets a stranger with a plan to make people “disappear and reappear.”

Thursday, May 16

NextGen: Art, Network & Vibe | Thursday, May 16 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Tampa Museum of Art, 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa | $0-$15 | Mingle with other art- and culture-loving locals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s over music and a signature cocktail.
OXH Gallery Presents: “Receptacle” | Thursday, May 16 | 6-9 p.m. | OXH Gallery, 1624 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City | Free | Showcasing artists from around the world, this display focuses on the art of women’s experiences of motherhood through their works.
Kathy Griffin | Thursday, May 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Ferguson Hall, 1010 N. Macinnes Pl., Tampa | $60+ | The Emmy Award-winning comedian and actress shares her personal stories on her new tour “My Life on the PTSD-List.”

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Open

Greenlane is rising to new heights. The drive-thru salad + snacks spot just opened a double-lane Tampa location at 2115 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Sunshine City residents, you can get in on this too — the brand is planning to open a St. Pete location this summer. (That’s So Tampa)

Development

We’re checking in on the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA redevelopment. The Grand Central District property will be transformed with a renovation of the current 55,000-sqft facility + a new floodlit turf field. A 325-unit apartment complex is also in the works. (St. Pete Catalyst)

Plan Ahead

Rupert’s on his way. The Premier League’s West Ham United is playing a match at Raymond James Stadium this summer. The Hammers face off against Crystal Palace on Saturday, August 3 at 7 p.m. The general sale starts today at 10 a.m. (That’s So Tampa)

Eat

Remember Munch’s? Tchotchke recently opened in the longtime South St. Pete diner’s space. With the slogan “tough to spell, easy to love,” Tchotchke serves up amped up breakfast classics like chicken and waffles with pickled jalapeños + shrimp and grits with Creole sauce. (I Love the Burg)

Announced

Deviled crab lovers know this spot. Brocato’s Sandwich Shop recently filed for bankruptcy. The Tampa eatery owes $1.4 million to its creditors after falling behind on debts during the pandemic. Owners have not put out a statement yet. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Ranked

No. 1. Tampa is the best city to invest in short-term rentals, according to a study by Clever Real Estate + Rabbu.com. That’s due to the Cigar City’s 71.6% property value increase over the past five years. The study also ranked cities based on their median home prices + occupancy rates. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Sports

How would you rank the Bucs’ draft performance? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Biz

Your ambition is infinite, but your time is not. Athena can help you scale yourself + your company by pairing you with an elite assistant and world-class delegation coaching. Bonus: MKTtoday readers can score a $1,500 credit — see how.*

Transportation

Read this before your commute

Buckle up for two Tampa Bay area transportation updates

Take a peek at this map before your downtown Tampa commute. | Graphic via City of Tampa

Whether you head to work in an SUV, two-wheeler, or the SunRunner, we have some important updates for you:

The City of Tampa announced that starting today, East Jackson Street, between Tampa Street and Franklin Street, will be cut down to one eastbound lane while workers swap out an aging wastewater pipe. The work is expected to take up to three weeks. In the meantime, the city recommends rerouting to take N. Ashley Drive to either E. Whiting Street or E. Madison Street.
Bikers rejoice: The Green Spine will be extended by nearly a mile along Nuccio Parkway and 15th Street, according to the Tampa Bay Buisness Journal.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is looking for feedback from residents on “ridership-focused or coverage-focused bus network concepts,” according to a release. Take the survey to weigh in.

The Buy

Apple pie made easy. We’re celebrating National Apple Pie Day by warming up some of this Apple Pie Jam from Adams Apple Co. with a little bit of ice cream.

Answered

Last week, we asked you “How many hurricanes have you been through?”

The water recedes from the bay after Hurricane Ian

It’s important to observe safety measures after a hurricane. | Photo by @nhrphotography

And it turns out most of you have seen quite a few, with 35% of readers saying they’ve been through at least five. Woof.

But some of you are still learning the ropes — a reminder to check out our guide — with ~18% of readers having experienced one or two and ~14% of readers saying they’ve seen three or four hurricanes.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Bailey

From the editor

We’re always on mural watch around here. Here’s a new St. Pete delight for your Monday morning pleasure.

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