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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As St. Petersburg progresses with its redevelopment plans, local residents are being called upon to help safeguard the legacy of the Historic Gas Plant District.
A community event is scheduled for Thursday evening at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, where organizers will gather photographs, documents, and personal narratives related to the historic area.
This initiative seeks to chronicle the history of the Historic Gas Plant District, which was a vibrant Black neighborhood before its residents were displaced years ago to make room for Tropicana Field and the adjacent I-175.
Organizers are reaching out to descendants, historians, and local organizations to contribute family records and historical artifacts. The aim is to establish a public digital archive, ensuring the community’s past is preserved and accessible for future generations.
The city is currently evaluating various proposals for a multi-billion-dollar redevelopment project on the site. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has emphasized the importance of creating jobs, housing, and economic opportunities in the area while fulfilling commitments to the community.
Givens emphasized the importance of making sure the history of the site is not forgotten.
“I also want to make sure that we honor the history of that site and that we do right by the promises that were made and not kept,” said St. Petersburg Councilman Corey Givens Jr.
Some city leaders say they want to take time to carefully evaluate redevelopment proposals before making a final decision.
“The Historic Gas Plant site is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to get it right,” Givens said. “The last thing we want to do as elected officials is take the first thing that’s put in front of us. We need to make sure we get the highest and best value for that land.”
The community meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.
Organizers said anyone with photos, documents, or stories connected to the Historic Gas Plant District is encouraged to attend.