What's next for St. Pete's Historic Gas Plant proposals

The big picture: City staffers recommended that four of the eight proposals move forward. (One proposal was withdrawn by the developer.)

• Once Welch finalizes the shortlist, the city will host a public meeting with the developers and gather resident feedback, per a tentative timeline released by the city.
• The schedule calls for Welch to pick a proposal, or some combination of proposals, as soon as June and begin negotiating a development agreement in July.
• His selection would be formally vetted by the City Council and the Community Benefits Advisory Council, a resident panel that assesses city-funded projects for perks like affordable housing and environmental sustainability that benefit the public.

Friction point: The Welch administration's effort to move the project forward comes weeks after a majority of City Council members urged the mayor to pump the brakes.

• Brandi Gabbard, who is challenging Welch at the ballot box in August, led the effort.

Yes, but: Welch is taking up Council members' unanimous request to work with the Urban Land Institute on a study examining the best uses for the land.

• The first phase is set to begin this month.

State of play: City staffers gave high marks to bids from ARK Ellison Horus and Blake Investment Partners, both of which offer to buy the land and develop apartments, retail space and more on most or all of the Trop site.

• They also recommended shortlisting a pitch from Foundation Vision Partners to help the city create a master plan, then build out infrastructure into "shovel-ready development parcels." The city would retain land ownership and sell as the right projects come along.
• The Pinellas County Housing Authority's proposal for a seven-story, 80-unit affordable housing complex for a half-acre portion of the property was also recommended to move forward.

Zoom out: Staffers assessed each proposal's potential public benefit, economic impact, housing, urban design and compatibility, implementation and feasibility.