September 2026 Work Plan Update

Thanks to support from our members and board, we made progress on many of the priorities we identified in our 2026 Work Plan and kept momentum in our mission to champion community prosperity through purposeful, transformative projects. This Work Plan update will share what progress has been made over the last couple of months. ‍

Downtown Improvement District

Ongoing contract updates with City staff, legal and risk working towards a Council budget approval date. The website for the District will be completed and ready to launch on October 1st. The current Board Members will be contacted and a new board will be organized in the coming weeks. Office space, uniform vendor and all other materials have been identified and are in the process of being secured, contingent on the contract with the City. District Manager hiring process is complete and a formal offer is pending contract w/ City.

Williams Park Partnership‍

Improvements on the bandshell are on schedule for Nov. 1 substantial completetion. $245,000 has been secured via fundraising or revenue for the upcoming Winter Wonder programming. Thank you to Power Design and Duke Energy for their assistance on an electrical issue for the ice rink. Programming for Winter Wonder has a projected start date of Nov. 20th. ‍

Historic Gas Plant‍

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Advisory Services Panel (ASP) has continued their study on the Historic Gas Plant District. Lee Lowry, the Executive Director of ULI Tampa Bay, provided an update on the prograss at a recent City Council meeting. The ULI ASP group will be visiting St. Pete in December.

‍Updated Downtown Land Use‍

Vice Chair Mack Feldman and CEO Jason Mathis recently did an episode of Downtown Dialogue on Radio St. Pete to talk about what makes a downtown street inviting, walkable, and vibrant, and how St. Petersburg can plan for the next 10, 20, or even 30 years of growth. This includes the conversion of some designated B streets to A streets to stimulate more retail activity.

We will be meeting with the new Director of Advocacy at the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce, Aron Bryce, to talk about the Partnership’s reccomendations of updated downtown land use zoning. These include creating a developer fund to support local arts, promoting of greater retail activation with B street to A street conversions, and incentivizing for the development of office space and hotels.‍

Central Ave Walkability‍

We are continuing to work with the City to get the necessary permits and approvals to move forward with sidewalks improvements identified for the portion in front of 200 Central and north side of the Jannus block. This project will continue in 2027. ‍

Center for Coastal Resiliency‍

Thank you to Aligned Engineering for completing an Environmental Assessment, required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to support the development of the Center for Coastal Resiliency. This project will continue in 2027. ‍

Digital Wayfinding‍

We are continuing to work with the IKE staff to determine locations for digital way finding signage as well as with City staff to develop a new ordinance allowing the placement of kiosks in St. Petersburg.This project will continue in 2027.