Tag: St. Pete
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A long-vacant tower in downtown St. Petersburg, left visibly scarred by Hurricane Milton, is poised for a major transformation. The damaged 11-story structure at 300 Central Avenue is set to be replaced with a boutique hotel, according to plans submitted by Gianco Companies. The Tampa-based developer, which acquired the property in 2017, has officially proposed…
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The University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus is still assessing the full extent of damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with early estimates suggesting costs could reach into the millions. The storms, which struck in late 2024, left significant destruction across the campus, impacting buildings, infrastructure, and equipment. Flooding from the hurricanes affected…
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Local organizers have launched the “Dump Duke” campaign, aiming to build public pressure on city officials to explore a municipal takeover of electric services. Dozens of residents gathered at Gladden Park Recreation Center recently, sitting on folding chairs and eating barbecue as they listened to activists and city leaders lay out a bold proposal: replace…
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St. Petersburg is set to launch a groundbreaking seagrass restoration project along its coastline this summer, a decade-long effort that the city believes may be the first of its kind in the United States. The initiative, centered off North Shore Park, has city officials buzzing with excitement. “This is probably the first of its kind…
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As of Monday’s close, the stadium agreement between St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays will officially expire. Monday marks the deadline for the Rays to fulfill specific financial obligations tied to the deal, which was intended to spearhead the redevelopment of downtown St. Petersburg’s historic Gas Plant area. Failure to submit a letter terminating…
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The St. Petersburg City Council has greenlit potential remedies for the exorbitant water bills that have plagued numerous residents. The issue of sky-high water bills emerged in the wake of last year’s hurricanes, with some residents reporting bills ranging from $1,000 to a staggering $10,000. At a public hearing, frustrated residents voiced their exasperation over…
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The first City Hall on Tour event of 2025 introduced Sunrise St. Pete, a $160 million storm recovery initiative, providing residents with a direct platform to connect with city officials. Mayor Ken Welch praised the community’s resilience in the wake of consecutive hurricanes, noting that while some initially expressed frustration, many are now appreciative of…
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Six months have passed since Hurricane Helene tore through St. Petersburg, leaving destruction in its wake. Yet, for many residents, recovery remains painfully out of reach. Frustration is mounting as storm survivors struggle to rebuild, tangled in bureaucratic red tape. Many are still unable to return home. Some juggle the financial burden of paying rent…
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The vote to approve repairs to Tropicana Field, severely damaged last October by Hurricane Milton, has been postponed until next month. City Council member Corey Givens Jr. revealed that the delay was communicated via email by the city administrator on Friday, as council members prepared to return from spring break. Givens expressed frustration over the…
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St. Pete is in the final phase of repairing its parks, playgrounds, recreation centers, and city-owned buildings battered by the consecutive hurricanes of 2024. Mike Jefferis, the city’s Community Enrichment Administrator, reports that the Lake Vista Recreation Center in South St. Pete endured some of the heaviest destruction. A bustling hub, the center has been…
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City Council members recently convened with consultants to ensure St. Petersburg meets federal requirements to secure $160 million in disaster recovery funding. The city must allocate $139 million to unmet storm recovery needs and $20.85 million to mitigation efforts, with at least 70% of the funds benefiting low-to-moderate-income (LMI) households. To assist in developing the…
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Progress may be slow, but it’s still progress—St. Petersburg’s highly anticipated Trails Crossing project is finally taking shape. Initially introduced in November 2021, Trails Crossing aims to revitalize neglected areas beneath I-275, converting them into dynamic park and event spaces that bridge divided neighborhoods. On March 6, the City Council approved civil engineering firm LandDesign…
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Following the devastation caused by recent hurricanes, officials in St. Petersburg and local maritime businesses are intensifying efforts to mitigate storm surge impacts and safeguard the city’s future. Saildrone, a maritime defense and oceanographic survey company headquartered at the Maritime Defense and Technology Hub in the Innovation District, has launched two 10-meter, solar-powered Saildrone Voyager…
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St. Petersburg remains under a local state of emergency, even five months after Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck, as Mayor Ken Welch’s declaration has been extended through June 30. This extension grants the mayor the authority to bypass typical city procedures when necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare. It also allows him to…
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A group based in Tampa has revealed its interest in acquiring the Tampa Bay Rays, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Leading this effort is Tampa businessman Joe Molloy, who aims to purchase the team and move forward with the proposed stadium deal in St. Petersburg, which remains available. The current ownership of the Rays…
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The City of St. Pete has introduced Sunrise St. Pete, a new initiative to guide the use of $159.8 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds, part of the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, will support the city’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Idalia (August 2023) and…
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In fiscal year 2024, the City of St. Petersburg allocated $13.5 million to certified small business enterprises (SBEs). City officials are optimistic that this number will grow thanks to new programs and partnerships. During a Feb. 27 committee meeting, city council members received an encouraging annual business enterprise report. Although there was a slight year-over-year…
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St. Petersburg originally planned $960 million in stormwater projects over five years. However, Mayor Ken Welch’s push to tackle growing climate threats has increased the total to $1.5 billion. City council members received their first in-depth briefing on the St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) program Thursday. Launched after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, SPAR aims to…
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St. Petersburg’s booming development has resulted in a backlog of construction permits, further aggravated by an unprecedented hurricane season. Although officials believe a new platform will help address the issue, persistent staffing challenges remain a significant concern. A 2024 independent study echoed local developers’ sentiments: the understaffed permitting department needs more personnel. Elizabeth “Liz” Abernethy,…
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The St. Petersburg City Council continues to investigate why some residents’ water bills skyrocketed to as much as six times the normal amount following last year’s hurricanes. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton subsided, several St. Petersburg residents were left with astonishingly high water bills. “Imagine my shock when I received my December utility bill for…
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Two lawsuits have been filed against the City of St. Petersburg over unexpectedly high water bills, following complaints from thousands of residents who received charges hundreds or even thousands of dollars above their usual amounts. On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council took steps to assist affected homeowners, including eliminating the requirement to hire a…
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On Thursday morning, the St. Petersburg City Council addressed growing concerns over what many residents are calling exorbitantly high water bills. Some homeowners reported receiving utility bills in the thousands of dollars, even while away on vacation. Frustration is mounting as typical bills of a few hundred dollars have surged to over $1,000. Residents are…
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Some St. Petersburg residents have reported unusually high water bills that are more than double their typical amount. Last week, the city council accelerated discussions on the issue, scheduling it for further examination on Feb. 20. If you’ve received a significantly high water bill, you’re not alone. Residents’ Complaints Many residents have reached out to…
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In St. Petersburg, a wastewater surveillance system is quietly tracking the community’s health by analyzing what residents flush away. The city is divided into three sewer sheds, each representing different neighborhoods that drain into the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility. For over a year, public works employees have been collecting wastewater samples three times a week…
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St. Petersburg officials have pledged not to cut off water service or impose additional late fees on residents hit with unexpectedly high utility bills following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. During a tense meeting Thursday, city council members pressed administrators for answers but received little clarity on how many customers were affected or why bills had…
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St. Petersburg’s 12th annual Localtopia festival on February 22 arrives at a crucial moment for local businesses recovering from recent hurricanes. The event will feature over 300 independent St. Pete businesses and organizations at Williams Park. “This needs to be epic for many to stay in business,” says Olga Bof, Founder of Keep Saint Petersburg…
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Following weeks of residents in St. Petersburg receiving unexpectedly high water bills, some amounting to thousands of dollars, an attorney has demanded an audit and hinted at potential legal action against the city. “As our community, my neighborhood, has been working to recover, these bills are just incredibly disheartening,” remarked attorney Matt Weidner. Weidner, whose…
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Pinellas County and the City of St. Petersburg are set to receive a combined $973.7 million in federal storm recovery funding, contingent on meeting strict criteria and a tight deadline. On January 27, St. Petersburg issued a request for proposals (RFP) to companies with the expertise to develop and write a Community Development Block Grant…
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Homeowners in St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres neighborhood are facing unexpected challenges with their water bills after their homes were gutted due to recent hurricanes, leaving them both puzzled and frustrated. ‘It’s Really Frustrating’ What They’re Saying: Jack Cleary’s Shore Acres residence is currently vacant and stripped to the studs. His faucets are completely dry. “Where’s…
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The City of St. Petersburg has faced expenses exceeding $247.3 million from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with more than half of that sum attributed to debris removal. City officials are optimistic about securing necessary funds from various sources to cover these costs. However, the city is still pending a $3 million reimbursement for damages from…
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Nearly four months after Hurricanes Helene and Milton displaced thousands of residents along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the City of St. Petersburg has partnered with the Bay Area Apartment Association (BAAA) to provide housing solutions for those affected. The partnership will host a Hurricane Recovery Rental Housing Fair on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 3 to 7…
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St. Petersburg officials and local legislators have teamed up to reduce the number of vehicles that push floodwaters into otherwise dry homes. A new bill, crafted locally, seeks to bypass state preemption and allow local governments to regulate vehicle speeds on flooded roads. The proposed legislation would also enable law enforcement to cite drivers who…
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Increasing numbers of St. Petersburg residents are reporting unusually high water bills. Since the hurricanes, dozens have complained about receiving bills that are five to twenty times higher than their usual amounts. Olga, a 95-year-old local, noticed her bill surge right before the hurricane hit. “I’ve lived in Florida for 80 years, and this kind…
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St. Petersburg is set to commence repairs on Albert Whitted Airport, over three months after Hurricane Milton caused significant damage to the publicly owned facility. On January 9, City Council members unanimously approved a $1.2 million contract to start the demolition and removal of damaged hangars. Crews are scheduled to begin constructing the 2025 Firestone…
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Thousands of families remain displaced following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. To help these residents secure temporary or permanent housing, the city of St. Petersburg is partnering with the Bay Area Apartment Association (BAAA) to host a Hurricane Recovery Rental Housing Fair. This event will serve as a one-stop resource, connecting families with local housing providers.…
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Mayor Ken Welch has emphasized the necessity for agile resilience since consecutive hurricanes wreaked havoc in September and October. St. Petersburg has decided to invest in a deployable flood wall and waterproof sewer infrastructure. The City Council unanimously endorsed these measures during their Thursday afternoon session. The city aims to have a custom-made AquaFence, an…
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Tampa Bay Rays officials now state they “support and expect” the City of St. Petersburg to complete repairs to the hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field in time for Opening Day of the 2026 season. In a letter to City Administrator Robert Gerdes, Rays President Matthew Silverman outlined the organization’s revised stance, emphasizing the importance of the city…
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On Tuesday evening, Pinellas County commissioners voted 5-2 in favor of funding the new $1.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays Stadium. Despite the approval, questions remain about whether the team will follow through with the deal. Commissioners Vince Nowicki and Chris Scherer voted against the funding, while Chris Latvala and Dave Eggers, who had previously opposed…
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The Tampa Bay Times reports that efforts to repair the hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, have stalled, casting doubt on the Tampa Bay Rays franchise’s future in the city. The 35-year-old stadium, which suffered significant damage during Hurricane Milton, was initially slated to receive $24 million in funding for repairs. However, a last-minute reversal…
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St. Pete’s Hometown Recovery Haulers made significant strides in clearing the city’s massive debris from recent storms. Participants noted the program’s impact went far beyond just cleaning up after the hurricanes. This short-term initiative involved 100 local business owners and residents who collected storm debris throughout St. Pete. Beyond cleaning up, the program aimed to…
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As the Tampa Bay area continues its rebuilding efforts, the permitting process has become a challenging part of the journey for everyone involved—from residents eager to return to their homes to city officials overwhelmed with thousands of applications. In St. Petersburg, some residents have experienced long wait times for permit approval. “[Residents are] frustrated with…
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St. Petersburg has made significant progress in clearing debris from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, collecting an unprecedented 1,844,137 cubic yards of vegetative and construction debris as of December 9. Mayor Ken Welch anticipates the total will exceed 2 million cubic yards, surpassing the debris volumes from Hurricanes Idalla, Ian, and Irma combined. To put the…
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