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Blake Investment Partners Unveils Historic Gas Plant Vision
Blake Investment Partners Unveils Historic Gas Plant Vision
Feb 18, 2026
Blake Investment Partners proposes transforming St. Petersburg's 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District with over 3,600 affordable housing units, a 13-acre park, and cultural amenities.
Blake Investment Partners proposes transforming St. Petersburg's 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District with over 3,600 affordable housing units, a 13-acre park, and cultural amenities.
Blake Investment Partners has submitted a comprehensive $8.1 billion proposal to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Petersburg, positioning itself as a steward of one of the city's most significant and historically sensitive redevelopment opportunities.
The St. Petersburg-based firm's proposal, branded as "St. Petersburg 3.0," calls for more than 3,600 affordable and workforce housing units delivered both on and off-site over the life of the project, representing what the company describes as the largest affordable housing delivery in St. Petersburg's history. Blake has framed the plan as a long-term commitment to honoring the legacy of the Historic Gas Plant District, once the heart of a thriving African American community that was displaced during previous redevelopment efforts.
At the center of the proposal is a 13-acre central park designed by local firm Wannemacher Jensen Architects, which would become the largest new city park created in St. Petersburg in 119 years. The park would anchor what Blake calls "Museum Row," a cultural corridor featuring a new home for the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, positioned as the "crown jewel" of the project, as well as a new Museum of Public Art co-chaired by prominent local art leaders Chad Mize and Mark Aeling. International artists Gillie & Marc are expected to contribute a permanent public art collection to the district.
"We can let Art Basel have 14 days, but we want the spotlight to be on St. Pete for 50 of the 52 weeks a year when it comes to art," said T.W. Blake, founder of Blake Investment Partners.
Public amenities outlined in the proposal include a multi-modal transportation hub designed with future light rail connectivity to Tampa International Airport in mind, a workforce training and small business center known as the Collaboratorium, and the Booker Creek Cultural Center, a multi-purpose indoor-outdoor event venue. The plan also envisions a potential St. Pete Surf Wave outdoor water attraction.
The master plan incorporates Booker Creek, the Pinellas Trail, conference facilities, childcare, higher education and research space, and significant contiguous green space throughout the development. The proposal emphasizes smart city technologies, environmental remediation, Florida-Friendly landscaping, and health equity strategies.
In what Blake describes as a "groundbreaking approach to community accountability," the firm has proposed a Community Investment Fund that would allow residents to invest directly in the project, with matching funds from the development team, creating a potential wealth-building vehicle for the community.
The proposal also establishes the Historic Gas Plant Visionary Panel, a permanent advisory committee composed of leaders from approximately 20 local organizations representing the heart of St. Petersburg. This panel would provide ongoing guidance, feedback, and accountability throughout the development process.
"We are stewards first, investors second," said T.W. Blake. "We're weaving together housing, culture, and commerce, with meaningful community accountability to create everlasting value for the city. The Historic Gas Plant District holds deep meaning, and our vision represents a long-term commitment to the people of St. Petersburg."
The development team assembled for the proposal includes nationally recognized and local partners. Major partners include Related Group (the nation's largest residential developer), Skanska (the seventh largest general contractor worldwide, known for park and museum construction), Greystar Real Estate Partners (the nation's leading developer and manager of apartments), Gilbane Building Company (seventh largest general contractor in the U.S.), Blue Sky Communities (a prolific St. Petersburg affordable housing developer with more than five decades of experience), KAST Construction (St. Petersburg's most active general contractor), and Wannemacher Jensen Architects (local architectural design firm).
Additional partners include Zyscovich (now known as Stratus), a global land planning and city design firm; Langan Engineering and Environmental Services; Stantec Consulting Services; Wade Trim; Aligned Engineering; Open Realty; and Stadler Development.
Blake Investment Partners partnered with Blue Sky Communities specifically to execute the affordable housing component of the proposal. Blue Sky has delivered several affordable housing developments across St. Petersburg over the past decade, including Skyway Lofts, Bear Creek Commons, and Brookside Square.
"Commitments to affordable housing don't mean anything unless you have a team in place to actually get it done," said Scott McDonald, principal at Blue Sky Communities. "At the historic Gas Plant, we're ready to deliver affordable and workforce housing not only within the district but across the city. This isn't just another project. This is St. Pete. It's our home."
Blake Investment Partners says the project would generate billions in dollars in economic impact, create thousands of jobs, and reinforce St. Petersburg's identity as a city centered around arts, culture, and inclusive growth. With its emphasis on equity, community ownership, workforce development, sustainability, and large-scale public space, the proposal sets the stage for what could become one of the most transformative redevelopment efforts in the city's history.
The proposal arrives as part of a competitive process initiated by Mayor Ken Welch's administration following an unsolicited $6.8 billion proposal from ARK Ellison Horus submitted in October 2025. The city formally opened a 30-day window for alternative proposals on January 4, 2026, with submissions due February 3. In total, nine proposals were submitted for the historic site.
Blake Investment Partners first expressed interest in the Gas Plant District in March 2025, just hours after the Tampa Bay Rays announced they would walk away from a long-negotiated $6.7 billion stadium deal. At that time, Blake submitted a $260 million all-cash offer to purchase the site.
City leaders will now evaluate proposals as St. Petersburg determines the future of the Historic Gas Plant District, a decision that will shape downtown St. Petersburg's development for generations to come.
Blake Investment Partners has submitted a comprehensive $8.1 billion proposal to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Petersburg, positioning itself as a steward of one of the city's most significant and historically sensitive redevelopment opportunities.
The St. Petersburg-based firm's proposal, branded as "St. Petersburg 3.0," calls for more than 3,600 affordable and workforce housing units delivered both on and off-site over the life of the project, representing what the company describes as the largest affordable housing delivery in St. Petersburg's history. Blake has framed the plan as a long-term commitment to honoring the legacy of the Historic Gas Plant District, once the heart of a thriving African American community that was displaced during previous redevelopment efforts.
At the center of the proposal is a 13-acre central park designed by local firm Wannemacher Jensen Architects, which would become the largest new city park created in St. Petersburg in 119 years. The park would anchor what Blake calls "Museum Row," a cultural corridor featuring a new home for the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, positioned as the "crown jewel" of the project, as well as a new Museum of Public Art co-chaired by prominent local art leaders Chad Mize and Mark Aeling. International artists Gillie & Marc are expected to contribute a permanent public art collection to the district.
"We can let Art Basel have 14 days, but we want the spotlight to be on St. Pete for 50 of the 52 weeks a year when it comes to art," said T.W. Blake, founder of Blake Investment Partners.
Public amenities outlined in the proposal include a multi-modal transportation hub designed with future light rail connectivity to Tampa International Airport in mind, a workforce training and small business center known as the Collaboratorium, and the Booker Creek Cultural Center, a multi-purpose indoor-outdoor event venue. The plan also envisions a potential St. Pete Surf Wave outdoor water attraction.
The master plan incorporates Booker Creek, the Pinellas Trail, conference facilities, childcare, higher education and research space, and significant contiguous green space throughout the development. The proposal emphasizes smart city technologies, environmental remediation, Florida-Friendly landscaping, and health equity strategies.
In what Blake describes as a "groundbreaking approach to community accountability," the firm has proposed a Community Investment Fund that would allow residents to invest directly in the project, with matching funds from the development team, creating a potential wealth-building vehicle for the community.
The proposal also establishes the Historic Gas Plant Visionary Panel, a permanent advisory committee composed of leaders from approximately 20 local organizations representing the heart of St. Petersburg. This panel would provide ongoing guidance, feedback, and accountability throughout the development process.
"We are stewards first, investors second," said T.W. Blake. "We're weaving together housing, culture, and commerce, with meaningful community accountability to create everlasting value for the city. The Historic Gas Plant District holds deep meaning, and our vision represents a long-term commitment to the people of St. Petersburg."
The development team assembled for the proposal includes nationally recognized and local partners. Major partners include Related Group (the nation's largest residential developer), Skanska (the seventh largest general contractor worldwide, known for park and museum construction), Greystar Real Estate Partners (the nation's leading developer and manager of apartments), Gilbane Building Company (seventh largest general contractor in the U.S.), Blue Sky Communities (a prolific St. Petersburg affordable housing developer with more than five decades of experience), KAST Construction (St. Petersburg's most active general contractor), and Wannemacher Jensen Architects (local architectural design firm).
Additional partners include Zyscovich (now known as Stratus), a global land planning and city design firm; Langan Engineering and Environmental Services; Stantec Consulting Services; Wade Trim; Aligned Engineering; Open Realty; and Stadler Development.
Blake Investment Partners partnered with Blue Sky Communities specifically to execute the affordable housing component of the proposal. Blue Sky has delivered several affordable housing developments across St. Petersburg over the past decade, including Skyway Lofts, Bear Creek Commons, and Brookside Square.
"Commitments to affordable housing don't mean anything unless you have a team in place to actually get it done," said Scott McDonald, principal at Blue Sky Communities. "At the historic Gas Plant, we're ready to deliver affordable and workforce housing not only within the district but across the city. This isn't just another project. This is St. Pete. It's our home."
Blake Investment Partners says the project would generate billions in dollars in economic impact, create thousands of jobs, and reinforce St. Petersburg's identity as a city centered around arts, culture, and inclusive growth. With its emphasis on equity, community ownership, workforce development, sustainability, and large-scale public space, the proposal sets the stage for what could become one of the most transformative redevelopment efforts in the city's history.
The proposal arrives as part of a competitive process initiated by Mayor Ken Welch's administration following an unsolicited $6.8 billion proposal from ARK Ellison Horus submitted in October 2025. The city formally opened a 30-day window for alternative proposals on January 4, 2026, with submissions due February 3. In total, nine proposals were submitted for the historic site.
Blake Investment Partners first expressed interest in the Gas Plant District in March 2025, just hours after the Tampa Bay Rays announced they would walk away from a long-negotiated $6.7 billion stadium deal. At that time, Blake submitted a $260 million all-cash offer to purchase the site.
City leaders will now evaluate proposals as St. Petersburg determines the future of the Historic Gas Plant District, a decision that will shape downtown St. Petersburg's development for generations to come.
