Rays stadium plan wins long-awaited approval by St. Pete City Council
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays finally received the greenlight from the St. Petersburg City Council on their plans for the Historic Gas Plant District and a new stadium.
Why it matters: The "yes" has been years and dozens of contentious meetings in the making, and puts the team one step closer to a new, innovative stadium and a livelier downtown.
- It's also a loss for community advocates who say the deal will fail to deliver the affordable housing necessary to make up for harm done to the Black community during the building of Tropicana Field.
Roll call: Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders and council members Copley Gerdes, Brandi Gabbard, Ed Montanari and Gina Driscoll voted in favor.
- Council members Lisset Hanewicz, John Muhammad and Richie Floyd were opposed.
What they're saying: "How many of you really agreed with everything that was in your mortgage?" Figgs-Sanders asked ahead of the vote. "We make difficult decisions each and every day."
- "Everyone is thinking and feeling in their heart that they've made the best decision … with the knowledge that they have," she said. "I am so glad I'm here to ensure that this day will be remembered as the day that as a city, we came together."
The other side: Muhammad said the agreement before the Council did not "reflect several of the pledges that have been made verbally" by the project's developers.
- "So for all of those who support baseball, who want to see the area redeveloped … who want to have the promises honored and commitments kept, yet do not support this deal and believe we can do better, my vote today is your voice," he added.
- "This is corporate welfare, period," Floyd said. "We are pumping money into the profits of a business worth over a billion dollars when we have so many real needs in our city."
New details: The council revised the agreement to ensure that the development team not only designs but also implements sustainability features.
Catch up quick: A workshop earlier this week revealed new details as city and team officials firmed up commitments in the redevelopment plan, including:
- A child care facility, expected by 2033, and a grocery store to be built by 2045.
- Stadium storm-hardening designed to withstand a Category 4 hurricane.
- A parking garage with at least 20% of its spots dedicated to electric vehicles.
The fine print: Developer Hines is also required to "good faith efforts" to become LEED certified with the United States Green Building Council.
- The stadium is also planned to generate the most solar energy of all MLB ballparks, said Mohit Mehta, the design team's head of sustainability.
What's ahead: The agreement is now in the hands of county officials, who have tentatively scheduled a vote on July 30.