St. Petersburg residents could see two referendums on their November ballot, including one that would allow longer leases at the city’s port to support an expansion of a coastal resilience research center.

The proposed measure would extend allowable lease lengths at the port from 10 to 25 years, enabling the development of a planned Center for Coastal Resilience. The center would be built adjacent to the existing Maritime and Defense Technology Hub and, unlike that facility, would be open to academic, government, nonprofit, and for-profit institutions focused on protecting coastlines from storms.

The proposed 50,000-square-foot building would be constructed on city-owned land, though the city would not fund its construction. Alison Barlow, CEO of the St. Petersburg Innovation District, and Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, are seeking federal, state, and county grants to cover costs. The latest contractor quote for construction is $26.8 million.

City Council members, who reviewed the proposal on Feb. 26, expressed greater comfort with a 25-year lease than a previously floated 50-year option. Full council approval is needed to place the measure on the November ballot.

The second proposed referendum would add a property tax to fund $600 million in investments in water and stormwater infrastructure as the city faces more frequent and intense storms.

The St. Petersburg Innovation District and the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership would co-manage the new center, generating new revenue for both organizations. Proponents say the longer lease terms would aid financing and help attract tenants.

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