Historic Gas Plant District Redevelopment Master Plan

Gensler is the master plan architect for the recently approved redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District in St. Petersburg — a bold vision to create a vibrant, mixed-use district surrounding a state-of-the-art new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays. Nearly 40 years ago, members of the Historic Gas Plant community were displaced by efforts to pursue bringing Major League Baseball to the city and the eventual construction of what is now Tropicana Field, the current home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The redevelopment plan aims to provide intentional and restorative opportunities for economic equity and inclusion for Black community members and other marginalized groups.

A comprehensive team led the transformational redevelopment of the district, including development partners Tampa Bay Rays and Hines, along with master plan architect Gensler, affordable housing partner Dante Partners, ballpark architect Populous, civil and transportation partner Kimley-Horn, landscape architect EDSA, social art consultant HOOD, and numerous local and national entities. The reimagined site will commemorate the original Historic Gas Plant community legacy while connecting and elevating St. Petersburg and its surrounding neighborhoods.

In addition to a stadium, the Rays|Hines team propose building 4,800 market-rate residential units, 600 senior living units, 600 affordable residential units, 1.4 million square feet of office and medical office space, and 750 hotel keys. Additionally, the master plan offers recreation and entertainment for the local community and visitors through 75,000 square feet of retail space, a 70,000-square-foot entertainment venue, and 50,000 square feet dedicated to housing the new Woodson African American Museum of Florida, positioned at the development’s entryway on Booker Creek.