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Smart Growth

Repurposing the Grow Smarter strategy

Ten years ago, public and private sector leaders launched the Grow Smarter Strategy to help direct growth and prioritize economic development activities in St. Petersburg. Today, our city faces many different challenges including affordable housing, equitable development, and urban growth challenges. We have an opportunity to develop a new economic growth strategy building on the foundation of Grow Smarter and the Comprehensive Arts Strategy, Structural Racism Study, StPete250, new Coastal High Hazard maps, as well as lessons from COVID and emerging markets and industries. Along with other public and private groups we will build consensus around a new vision that will help us evolve in thoughtful ways.

2023 Downtown Development Guide

Report: How St. Pete is meeting housing, office demands

St. Petersburg is experiencing unprecedented residential construction and low office vacancy rates as it continues to be among the top corporate relocation dest

February 28, 2023

Community leaders visit Atlanta, Georgia

Local leaders glean insight from Atlanta developments

Nearly two dozen civic and business leaders recently toured The Battery Atlanta, Truist Park and the Atlanta Beltline

November 29, 2023

Historic Gas Plant District rendering provided by Hines/Tampa Bay Rays

Here’s why the St. Pete Downtown Partnership supports the Rays/Hines stadium deal

The Historic Gas Plant District deserves a master planned, mixed income, complete neighborhood that can be a global example of smart urban design.

July 7, 2024

Monica Kile historian and tour guide with I Love the Burg, believes preservationists and developers could achieve similar goals through better dialogue and increased incentives.

Developer's Council Recap: Can preservation and development offer mutual benefits?

Earlier this week, we were joined by our friend and local historian, Monica Kile, to take a trolley tour of St. Pete, highlighting historic properties that are

December 1, 2023

Saturday Shoppes Vendors at St. Pete Store

New leadership alliance will foster equitable growth

Steinocher, president of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, said he wants to ensure the entire community helps determine the city’s future.

August 25, 2023

St. Pete Postcard style mural

St. Pete 2.0: Establishing priorities for St. Petersburg’s Comprehensive Arts Strategy [Take survey]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, we are asking Catalyst readers and DP members to refine and prioritize some of the themes that emerged from our 1st survey

January 11, 2021

3 sided mural alcove

St. Pete 2.0: Establishing priorities for St. Petersburg’s Comprehensive Arts Strategy [Survey results]

In this edition of St. Pete 2.0, we asked Catalyst readers and Downtown Partnership members to refine and prioritize some of the themes that have emerged.

January 25, 2021

Mural arts spraying paint on a wall

Comprehensive Arts Strategy Brief

The Comprehensive Arts Strategy (CAS) will develop strategic recommendations to grow St. Petersburg’s arts sector and improve overall community prosperity.

February 2, 2021

Terry Marks speaking at an event

St. Petersburg Launches a Comprehensive Arts Strategy

Four-point plan aims to make St. Pete the “Preeminent City of Arts in the Southeastern U.S.

July 29, 2021

Glass blowing at Morean Arts Center

Supporting a Comprehensive Arts Strategy

SPDP recognizes the connection between a strong arts economy and the development of the creative class as an economic engine for growth.

January 8, 2020

Coastal High Hazard Area map for Pinellas County

Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) Amendments Scheduled For Public Hearing

The CHHA amendments have now been scheduled for public hearing. The subject matter will be taken up in two different agenda item formats.

May 22, 2020

Coastal High Hazard Area map for Pinellas County

Council Passed the First Reading of the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA)

With a vote of 7-1, City Council voted to continue to make progress with the Coastal High Hazard discussion.

August 21, 2020

Skyline of Austin, Texas

Partnership Attends Chambers Thinking Outside the Burg Trip to Austin

The Downtown Partnership’s, Jason Mathis, and Nicole Roberts, plan to attend the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce’s "Thinking Outside the 'Burg" Trip to Austin.

April 13, 2023