The New York-based development firm behind St. Petersburg’s tallest tower wants additional time to submit its vision for a reimagined Historic Gas Plant District, currently home to Tropicana Field.
John Catsimatidis Sr., founder of the Red Apple Group, notified Mayor Ken Welch and St. Petersburg City Council members of his plans to submit a redevelopment proposal in a letter sent Friday. He also asked officials to extend a 30-day window that could begin this week.
Catsimatidis noted that the new owners of the Tampa Bay Rays are “taking a fresh look” at potential stadium sites throughout Tampa Bay, and said the city’s “sense of urgency is understandable and commendable.” However, he believes the submission period is “simply not enough time for most serious master planners or developers to make a competitive pitch.”
“Red Apple Real Estate is well-positioned to transform the 86 acres into what I call a ‘wow’ development, complete with the highest-quality residences for people wanting to live the American Dream in the heart of St. Petersburg,” Catsimatidis wrote.
“We have the knowledge, expertise and relationships to make market-rate housing, affordable housing, and impressive quality of life amenities a reality, all while creating jobs.”
Red Apple is putting the finishing touches on the Residences at 400 Central, an over $400 million mixed-use development. The firm is the second to request additional time for Gas Plant proposals since the city announced Oct. 22 that it would open a 30-day submission window in mid-November.
Simply receiving an unsolicited proposal from a development team led by St. Petersburg-based ARK Investment Management did not trigger the process. The mayoral administration is fulfilling a state-mandated requirement before selling the land.
“That’s because, obviously, they were interested in the proposal,” City Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz previously told the Catalyst. “If not, they would have never triggered the statute to start with.”
Council Chair Copley Gerdes previously noted that the roughly 86 acres “has been sitting and continues to sit.” He believes that “every day counts for the people who are counting on us to fulfill the promises on the piece of land.”
The city displaced thousands of Black families and businesses from the Gas Plant over 40 years ago. Officials promised stakeholders economic revitalization; they received the Trop and its sprawling surface parking lots.
Welch, a self-described “child of the Gas Plant,” has frequently stated that honoring long-deferred promises “has been a top priority for my administration.” The Tampa Bay Rays walked away from a long-negotiated deal in March.
Catsimatidis acknowledged an “arduous journey” for the city and its residents, “especially those who have waited generations for the site to bear fruit.” He also wrote that inclusion is a hallmark of the Welch administration.
“We ask that you include not just those who have gone through this process before and not just those who see this as free advertising,” Catsimatidis continued. “But those locally, nationally and internationally who are experienced and know how to deliver!”
ARK partnered with Tampa-based Ellison Development and Horus Construction Services on a $6.8 billion bid, submitted Oct. 3, to redevelop 95.5 acres of prime, underutilized real estate. Blake Investment Partners offered an unsolicited proposal in March, days after former Rays owner Stuart Sternberg exited his deal, which gained no traction.
The Pinellas County Housing Authority submitted plans Oct. 8 for one parcel, currently a city-owned parking lot used for Rays games. St. Petersburg-based Ascension Real Estate Partners, Storyn Studio for Architecture and the agency want to build an 80-unit facility for low-income seniors.
Another prominent development firm, Kolter, requested a 90-day submission window Oct. 22, a day after the city’s announcement. The city noted in a prepared statement Monday that, per Florida Statute 163.380, proposals “must be made within 30 days after the date of publication of the notice.”
City Development Administrator James Corbett subsequently reiterated that the Oct. 21 announcement provided developers additional time to submit proposals for property available since March.
“Anybody who was interested in it will have that 60-day time period to do something, and this has been talked about for a long time,” Corbett told the Catalyst.
Catsimatidis expressed his willingness for Red Apple to oversee the Historic Gas Plant District’s residential components, despite being “leaders, not followers.” He also wants residents at 400 Central to “look to their west and see a beautiful, world-class development that honors the past and looks to the future.”
“Providing more time in your process will allow that,” Catsimatidis concluded. “Thank you for your continued leadership and for being a great partner to us and believing in us.”
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