St. Pete faith leaders make their voices heard on Tropicana Field redevelopment project

Nearly a dozen African American faith leaders in St. Pete are making their voices heard and urging city leaders to make good on old promises. They want to ensure the redevelopment of Tropicana Field honors the history of the site and helps the community thrive. On Thursday, the faith leaders announced they are supporting the Sugar Hill development proposal for the redevelopment of Tropicana Field. The proposal would feature anywhere between 2,500 and over 3,000 affordable and workforce housing units, the larger amount would be if the development does not contain a baseball stadium.

The proposal would also call for a pedestrian bridge to connect communities on both sides of the interstate. Sugar Hill’s plan also calls for a history walk between downtown St. Pete and South St. Petersburg featuring the work of African American artists, plaques telling of the land’s history and other features. The land where Tropicana Field was built was once home to a thriving African American community known as St.

Pete’s Gas Plant district. Dr. Wayne Thompson of First Baptist Institutional Church grew up on the site. “We remember very fondly of some of the great and good days this town had and was known for because of the gas plant area,” he recalled. City leaders later displaced the community to make way for a baseball stadium.

Now, the St. Petersburg faith leaders want the city to make good on old promises by choosing a developer for the 86 acres around Tropicana Field that will prioritize affordable housing, promote black businesses and honor the land’s history. Manuel Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church said that is essential. “If something is not done, there will be a total eradication of the present and history of African Americans in this spot,” he said. The faith leaders are endorsing Sugar Hill’s proposal from JMA Ventures based out of California and said it’s the best option.