ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Community activists in St. Petersburg said they want the city to do better to build affordable housing and workforce housing in the Historic Gas Plant District, now that the deal with the Tampa Bay Rays to build a new stadium appears to be dead.
“We believe that the focus should be on keeping residents and not profit-driven businesses at the heart of any proposed redevelopment,” said Jameka Williams with Faith In Florida.
Her group and others gathered on the front steps of City Hall on Monday morning to call for a new deal to help residents, and not the wealthy owners of baseball teams.
“This deal is one that would have hurt St. Petersburg and broke promises to the residents and former residents of the Gas Plant area,” said Bishop Manuel Sykes.
He said homeowners and business owners who were displaced by the construction of Tropicana Field deserve new opportunities.
“Now is the time to restore that community,” said Sykes.
City Councilman Richie Floyd voted against the development deal with the Rays and said a new plan could do a better job for the residents.
“That’s absolutely possible. I mean, economic studies have shown that baseball stadiums are terrible anchor tenants. They are only activated for 80 games a year and most of the people show up for the games and leave immediately afterward. We can have other anchor tenants, it’s a valuable parcel of land,” said Floyd.