Tag: St. Pete
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The St. Petersburg City Council voted 6-2 Thursday to pursue a planning-first approach before selecting a developer for the redevelopment of the historic Gas Plant district. The vote supports Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard’s motion expressing the council’s preference for slowing down the process. Gabbard said the city is chasing a speeding bullet with the current timeline.…
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More than a year and a half after back-to-back hurricanes struck Tampa Bay—Helene and Milton—residents who opted into Elevate Florida continue to wait for federal approval. The program, administered by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), received over $400 million in federal funding, primarily through FEMA programs such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.…
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The City of St. Petersburg has unveiled the second phase of its $160 million disaster recovery initiative, which includes voluntary property buyouts, homebuyer assistance, and affordable housing development for areas affected by recent hurricanes. The Sunrise St. Pete program will allocate $5 million to purchase up to 14 high-risk, flood-prone properties damaged by hurricanes Idalia…
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The City of St. Petersburg is preparing to implement the second phase of its $160 million disaster recovery plan to assist residents affected by storms over 15 months ago. The program offers reconstruction assistance, down payment help, affordable housing funding, and voluntary property buyouts. City officials report receiving 466 applications for reconstruction assistance, more than…
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The St. Petersburg City Council approved a state grant agreement Thursday to invest an additional $1 million in a pump station for the Shore Acres Flood Mitigation Project. State Rep. Lindsay Cross and Sen. Nick DiCeglie secured the matching state grant to help fund the pump station at Connecticut Avenue NE and Bayshore Boulevard. The…
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The St. Petersburg City Council voted unanimously December 4 to sell a 4-acre property at 7701 22nd Ave. N. to the St. Petersburg Group for $1.6 million, clearing a major obstacle for the revival of the historic Science Center. The sale is expected to close January 5, with construction company Sinclair Group anticipated to break…
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The City of St. Pete began accepting applications today for nearly $160 million in federal assistance to help residents affected by Hurricane Helene in 2024 and Hurricane Idalia in 2023. The program, called Sunrise St. Pete Disaster Recovery, is funded through community development block grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It…
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The St. Petersburg City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to grant the Sugar Hill Group a one-year extension on its agreement to redevelop Tangerine Plaza, a largely vacant city-owned retail center in South St. Petersburg. The project aims to bring a grocery store and affordable housing to an area designated as a food desert, which…
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St. Petersburg officials provided media a tour of Tropicana Field on December 3, showing repair progress after Hurricane Milton severely damaged the stadium in October 2024. The facility’s new roof was completed on November 20, with the final panel of 24 installed. Work has now shifted to interior renovations including clubhouses, the playing field, video…
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The St. Petersburg City Council voted Thursday to send a proposal for increased Main Street Program funding to its Economic and Workforce Development Committee for discussion in January. The city’s four Main Street Districts—The Edge, Grand Central, Deuces Live, and Skyway Marina—each receive $55,000 in annual funding, an amount that has remained unchanged for the…
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Popular community events like Halloween on Central could be in jeopardy if St. Petersburg’s Main Street districts don’t receive increased funding, district leaders warned city council members Monday. Nicole Waters, president of the Edge District, requested the city increase funding from $55,000 to $75,000 per district, citing rising costs that make it difficult to maintain…
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St. Pete officials have concluded that flooding problems across the city require tailored solutions for each affected neighborhood, following nine walking tours and a public meeting analyzing last year’s hurricane season impacts. Working with Jacobs Engineering as part of broader storm resiliency planning, the city examined nine neighborhoods: Old Pasadena, Kingston Street, Shore Acres, Bartlett…
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Foot Locker will no longer relocate its corporate headquarters to St. Petersburg following its $2.4 billion acquisition by Dick’s Sporting Goods, according to a memo sent to city council members Wednesday. The company informed the city it had “reevaluated its corporate strategy and decided not to move forward with relocating its global headquarters” after the…
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Approximately 50 units at The Morgan apartment complex in South St. Petersburg have been deemed unsafe to occupy following repeated failed fire inspections, according to the city’s fire marshal and fire department. Residents must vacate by Sunday due to what officials describe as an “imminent threat to the life and safety of occupants.” Five buildings…
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John Catsimatidis Sr., founder of the New York-based Red Apple Group, has requested additional time to submit a redevelopment proposal for St. Petersburg’s Historic Gas Plant District, which houses Tropicana Field. In a letter sent Friday to Mayor Ken Welch and City Council members, Catsimatidis asked officials to extend a 30-day submission window that could…
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St. Petersburg’s Albert Whitted Airport remains without replacement hangars more than a year after Hurricane Milton destroyed three structures that housed dozens of tenants, prompting city council members to push for faster action on rebuilding. The hurricane’s 100 mph winds destroyed 32 storage units, and the airport has lost approximately $275,000 in rental revenue to…
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Tampa and St. Pete city councils have approved a five-year agreement to restore ferry service connecting the two cities, with each municipality contributing up to $350,000 annually. The service will be operated year-round by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved the measure, while Tampa City Council passed it with…
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ARK Invest and Ellison Development have announced plans to launch two investment funds that would raise money for a proposed $6.8 billion redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site in St. Petersburg, Florida. The firms submitted an unsolicited bid in October to transform the 95-acre Gas Plant District site into a mixed-use development featuring housing, hotels,…
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Tampa and St. Petersburg moved forward Thursday with plans for a new cross-bay ferry service, with both cities voting on funding agreements. Tampa approved a five-year interlocal agreement that includes up to $350,000 annually for the ferry, which will be called the Tampa Bay Ferry. St. Petersburg was also scheduled to vote on contributing up…
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In just seven years, downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, has undergone a dramatic transformation, marked by the construction of the city’s four tallest buildings. These high-rise developments have surpassed the long-standing height record set by Priatek Plaza, which stood at 386 feet since its completion in 1990. The tallest of the new additions is 400 Central,…
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The St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved a land use change on October 16 that clears the way for the redevelopment of the former St. Petersburg College Allstate Campus in the Skyway Marina District. The decision allows Delray Beach-based Kolter Group to proceed with the purchase of the 17.25-acre property at 3200 34th St. S…
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St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved a $147,451 contract with Jacobs Engineering Group on Sept. 24 to study the installation of flood gates that could protect multiple neighborhoods from tidal and storm surge impacts. The proposed system would place flood gates at two bridges along Canal #7 in Shore Acres, the city’s lowest-lying neighborhood, at…
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The St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved a $147,451 contract with Jacobs Engineering Group on September 24 to study the installation of flood gates that could protect multiple neighborhoods from tidal and storm surge flooding. The project focuses on Shore Acres, the city’s lowest-lying neighborhood, but would benefit several interconnected areas, including Edgemoor, Placido Bayou,…
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The St. Petersburg City Council is stepping in to support the future of the Science Center of Pinellas County, framing its efforts as a defense of scientific inquiry itself. Council members are preparing to review proposals aimed at restoring and reopening the facility, which has been closed and fallen into disrepair. Some officials and advocates…
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Residents of St. Petersburg continue to receive extraordinarily high water bills months after city officials claimed billing issues were resolved, with thousands of billing adjustments required and no clear solution in sight. The Problem Michelle McConnell, a longtime resident who typically paid $79 monthly for water service, received a $2,200 bill in February claiming she…
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Residents of Tierra Verde, Florida are fighting a proposed marina expansion that would more than double boat storage capacity from 314 to over 700 dry racks. Developer Greenleaf Capital plans to demolish the existing retail plaza and one of the island’s two gas stations to accommodate the project. The expansion has generated significant opposition, with…
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The City of St. Petersburg has begun installing flood panels at its Northeast Water Reclamation Facility to prevent shutdowns during future hurricanes, city officials announced Monday. The facility was forced offline for the first time during Hurricane Helene in 2024, then again during Hurricane Milton. The shutdowns prompted the city to implement flood protection measures…
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St. Petersburg residents will see their utility bills rise by an average of $12.73 per month starting October 1, following a City Council vote on September 4 to increase rates by approximately 8.5%. The rate increases are intended to fund the St. Pete Agile Resilience Program, which fast-tracks infrastructure projects designed to strengthen the city’s…
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As construction continues and foot traffic slows in parts of St. Petersburg, several longtime businesses have closed their doors. In contrast, new ones are preparing to move in — sparking concern among residents and community groups. “Cycle closed. It was one of the first breweries in St. Pete, and now it’s changed ownership,” said resident…
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The St. Petersburg City Council held its first public hearing Thursday on the administration’s proposed $1.18 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, delving into key spending priorities and expressing concerns over how well certain community needs are being met. Property Taxes, Pension Costs Drive Debate Although the property tax formula remains the same, the budget…
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St. Petersburg residents will see higher utility bills beginning October 1, 2025, after the City Council approved a series of rate increases during a public hearing Thursday night. The adjustments affect water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater, and sanitation services for the 2026 budget year. City officials say the updated fees are necessary to maintain reliable…
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St. Petersburg leaders are set to take a final vote Thursday on whether to raise utility rates to fund hundreds of millions in infrastructure improvements. Mayor Ken Welch said the proposal would increase utility bills by 8–10% on average. The city estimates it needs roughly $614 million for stormwater and wastewater upgrades. District 4 Council…
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Tropicana Field is one step closer to getting a new roof after Hurricane Milton shredded the old one. For weeks, crews have been laying netting and preparing for the job. Installation of the first of 24 roof panels—each weighing about 4,800 pounds—has now begun, a St. Petersburg city spokesperson confirmed. Because of the weight, the…
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St. Petersburg is aiming to have hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field ready for the Tampa Bay Rays’ 2026 home opener, now officially set for April 6 against the Chicago Cubs. Major League Baseball released its schedule on Tuesday, giving the city a firm deadline to finish the ambitious repairs. Roof work is already underway, with the city…
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When Jim and Rachelle Pennington bought their house in St. Pete’s Oak Ridge neighborhood in March of 2001, they imagined it would be their forever home—a safe and comfortable place to grow and raise a family. The property had everything the young couple needed to build a firm foundation for the kids they had planned…
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Mayor Ken Welch has agreed to explore whether St. Petersburg should break from Duke Energy and create its own municipal utility—while also proposing a 10-year extension with the company. Welch outlined his stance in a memo to council members Friday, one day after they voted 5-3 to order a feasibility study. The city’s current 30-year…
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St. Petersburg officials are preparing to take another step toward the possibility of electric air taxis in the city. For months, the city’s Advanced Air Mobility Task Force has been studying electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, or EVTOLs — futuristic aircraft that resemble a cross between a drone, plane and helicopter, and are expected…
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St. Petersburg police are warning drivers that cruising too fast through floodwaters could now lead to a ticket. For the first time, officers have the authority to cite motorists who create damaging wakes, thanks to a new state law pushed by Rep. Lindsay Cross and Sen. Nick DiCeglie. The measure aims to protect neighborhoods that…
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Residents at The Morgan apartments still had running water on Thursday night, although the City of St. Petersburg had warned that service could be cut if the property owner did not clear its overdue balance. “An interruption of services is a last resort,” said Alizza Punzalan-Randle, the city’s managing director of communications, in an email.…
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The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is shifting into a higher gear next year with the addition of a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. NASCAR announced Wednesday that the trucks will compete on February 28, marking the first time the series has ever raced on a street course. “This is an exciting addition to…
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As another hurricane season begins, many families in St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres neighborhood are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Helene — and waiting to see if state aid will help them stay. More than 550 homeowners applied to Elevate Florida, the state’s pilot program to raise flood-prone houses. However, state officials said that only…
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About 330,000 St. Petersburg utility customers could see higher water bills this fall as city leaders weigh a package of rate hikes. The City Council is set to discuss the proposal on Thursday, which would raise drinking water, wastewater, and sanitation rates by $2 to $4 per month. The biggest jump would come in stormwater…
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Almost 11 months after Hurricane Helene battered the City of St. Petersburg and well beyond, some homeowners say they’re still waiting on the city to approve repair permits — even as another hurricane season gains momentum. Back in March, city officials admitted there were about 1,400 storm-related permits stuck in the pipeline. At the time,…
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