Ken Welch

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch's pick to redevelop the Tropicana Field site puts the Tampa Bay Rays in the box seat. So what comes next?

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch chose the Hines-Rays team to reimagine Tropicana Field and the Historic Gas Plant District. Here are the details of the proposal.

Welch announced his decision during his State of the City, saying he's "confident that this decision is the best path forward."

The four finalists to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site for when the Tampa Bay Rays' lease expires in 2027 gave their presentations to the public Wednesday night at the Coliseum.

Community input can be given in person or online through Jan. 23 and will be considered by Mayor Ken Welch when he selects the winning bid to develop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site.

She says renderings of the proposals to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District — and the site of Tropicana Field — will not resemble the actual project in 20 years.

Here are the details from the four firms that have submitted plans to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District.

Four companies presented their proposals to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District by Friday's deadline. Mayor Ken Welch has made affordable housing a focus of the plans.

St. Petersburg and Tampa are preparing for what could be their first direct hit by a major hurricane in over a century. Officials there are urging people to comply with evacuation orders immediately.

Communications director Janelle Irwin Taylor quit after accusing Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens of fostering a culture of bullying and a hostile work environment. Welch defended Owens.

Stephanie Owens' resignation will take effect Sept. 9, according to a statement from the city.

The city is asking developers to include accommodations for affordable housing and a new baseball stadium, and would like them to find ways to honor the history and legacy of the African-American Gas Plant community.