Historic Gas Plant District

Historically, for many American cities, Black citizens built the infrastructure projects that served as the bedrock of its development; and yet the same projects were simultaneously designed with a disregard for the Black community. This was the case in St. Petersburg.

Established in the early 20th century, Cooper’s Quarters was a neighborhood formed in St. Petersburg by Black workers who helped build the Orange Belt Railway. Though geographically limited, they made Cooper’s Quarters home, creating a growing neighborhood that prospered for generations.

Cooper’s Quarters would eventually become known as the Gas Plant area, an early example of the 20-minute neighborhood. Within a 20-minute walk, you could find a dentist, communal fish fry or BBQ, a thriving small business, the Harlem Theater, a church of your choice and a porch to rest and have community conversations.

When I-175 was constructed, it was the first major spatial separation from what was once a vibrant community. The interstate displaced many residents and disrupted the community’s connection to the Deuces Cultural Arts venues and what is now Campbell Park. The operations of the gas plant also contributed to the demise of the Gas Plant neighborhood. It resulted in compromised soil, prompting the City of St. Petersburg to make unfulfilled promises for redevelopment and job opportunities.

In the pursuit of baseball, the Florida Suncoast Dome was built in 1989. Some of the first events held at the venue after its 1990 opening included hockey, basketball, football, sprint car racing, gymnastics, soccer, tennis, weightlifting, table tennis, karate, motorcycle racing, equestrian events, track and figure skating.

After years of failed bids and relocation attempts, Tampa Bay was awarded their expansion team from Major League Baseball in 1995. The venue was renamed Tropicana Field in 1996 and the first regular season baseball game took place at the park on March 31, 1998.

Our redevelopment plan accepts the challenge and deep responsibility of honoring the past while building the future of the Historic Gas Plant District. This project aims to produce a rich, urban experience that fortifies and reimagines the area’s 20-minute neighborhood tradition. People will flock to this destination where small businesses retain visibility and accessibility, ensuring benefits for the City of St. Petersburg while guaranteeing the inclusion of the Black community in this success.

Descendants of the Gas Plant Neighborhood gathered at Tropicana Field on August 23, 2023, many for the first time, to meet with Mayor Welch and team president Brian Auld for a Tampa Bay Rays game.