The Burg Bid

The Burg Bid is the proposal selected to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant district, the site of Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg and one of the most sought-after redevelopment parcels in the Southeast. Led by Blake Investment Partners, the private equity firm founded by St. Petersburg native Thompson Whitney Blake, in partnership with Miami-based Related Group, the plan offers $275 million to purchase 58 acres of the site and projects roughly $8.1 billion in total development investment, with requested public investment limited to $75 million from the community redevelopment area. The vision centers on a 13-acre park and a museum row anchored by a new Woodson African American Museum and a public art museum with a permanent international collection, alongside more than 3,600 projected workforce housing units delivered on and off site over the life of the project. The proposal also outlines a workforce training and small business success center, a multipurpose indoor-outdoor event venue, a potential outdoor surf and water facility, and a contemplated multimodal transportation hub. The development team includes Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Blue Sky Communities, Skanska, KAST Construction, Gilbane, and Greystar, with funding from Elliott Investment Management. City council approval of final development plans is expected next summer.