School of Architecture & Community Design Alumni Participate in Significant Redevelopment Project

The Historic Gas Plant Redevelopment Project in St. Petersburg, Florida has been called, “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” and “one of the most significant redevelopment projects in the country.” Currently home to Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays, the new RFP calls for a focus on equitable redevelopment and a “17.3-acre carve out for a baseball stadium,” as well as new requirements that include current economic and societal conditions and community sentiment.

The completion of this project is expected to have great impact on generations to come through its emphasis on affordable and workforce housing, open spaces, intentional equity, arts and culture, education and research, as well as healthy and sustainable development. According to St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch, “This is an historic opportunity for our city to utilize a generational redevelopment opportunity to ensure equitable opportunity for all residents, visitors, businesses and stakeholders.”

Several USF School of Architecture & Community Design alumni are members of three of the four development teams vying for the project:

50 Plus 1: Rayane Plyler, Project Development Services, Jones Lange LaSalle (JLL); Beverly Frank, B Frank Studio; Carlos Molnar, Sol Design Studio; Jerel McCants, Jerel McCants Architecture
Hines Rays: Dawn Gunter, Gensler
Sugar Hill Community Partners: Jerel McCants, Jerel McCants Architecture; Sarah-Jane Vatelot, Behar+Peteranecz Architecture

The public had the chance to hear from each proposer at a community presentation at the Coliseum. The final decision will be announced by Mayor Welch at his first State of the City address in late January.

The four proposals are available for review on the City of St. Petersburg’s Historic Gas Plant District Redevelopment Project website.