St. Petersburg Council Candidates Weigh In On Tropicana Field Redevelopment Decision
St. Petersburg City Council candidates shared their views on Mayor Ken Welch's selection of Blake Investment Partners to redevelop the Tropicana Field site. The candidates expressed varying opinions on the timing of the decision and the importance of community benefits…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, July 21, 2026 — St. Petersburg City Council candidates have voiced their perspectives on Mayor Ken Welch’s recent decision to select Blake Investment Partners for the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site. The candidates’ opinions reveal a range of viewpoints regarding the timing of the mayor’s choice and the critical need for community benefits and oversight throughout the development process.
The selection of Blake Investment Partners marks a significant step in the long-discussed plans to revitalize the area surrounding the former baseball stadium. However, the timing of this decision has become a focal point for several City Council candidates. Some have expressed concerns that the announcement was made prematurely, potentially before all avenues for community input or alternative proposals were fully explored.
Other candidates, while perhaps not explicitly endorsing the choice, have emphasized the importance of ensuring that any redevelopment project yields substantial community benefits. These benefits could include affordable housing, job creation, improved public spaces, and equitable economic opportunities for local residents and businesses. The need for robust accountability measures to ensure these benefits are realized is a common thread among the candidates’ remarks.
The specific details regarding the timeline for Blake Investment Partners’ next steps and the criteria used in their selection process were not elaborated upon in the provided information. Furthermore, the candidates’ specific endorsements or criticisms of Blake Investment Partners as a developer were varied. The emphasis, however, remains on the ultimate outcome of the project and its impact on the St. Petersburg community.
As the City Council prepares to potentially review or engage with this decision, the differing opinions among the candidates highlight the complex and often debated nature of large-scale urban development projects. The candidates’ statements underscore a shared desire for a development that not only transforms the physical landscape but also enhances the quality of life for the city’s residents, with a strong focus on community advantages and transparent governance.
Story summarized from the original created by By Colleen Wright, Times staff on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
