Community Benefits

The City of St. Petersburg’s Disparity Study, Structural Racism Study and community conversations reinforce our commitment to equitable development that reallocates resources as a restorative process based on the site’s history. In addition to the on- and off-site affordable/workforce housing, we will support programs focusing on a wide array of industries and professions.

A key mission to economic development at the Historic Gas Plant District will include efforts to address racial and ethnic disparity through procurement and staffing throughout the design and development processes. A major part of this transformation will be establishing a restorative pipeline of employment efforts based on mentorship and apprentice programs, along with diverse supplier internship match-making.

The Hines Historic Gas Plant District development will commit to early childhood literacy and civic outreach. This commitment includes the creation of a library and community space alongside the Rays’ continued promise to countless community education and youth development programs. It will further benefit the community with multigenerational educational spaces from an investment in the City’s ENOCH Davis Center and cultural centers like the Woodson African American Museum and Booker Music Hall.

We will also build partnerships with local providers to ensure that all new businesses entering the district participate in training sessions to understand the local history of the area, as well as to guarantee they are serving in an inclusive manner.

Recommendations outlined in the Oaklawn Cemetery GPR Study and similar studies yet to be performed will be followed to preserve the legacy of the site while honoring the connected families and descendants. This would include a memorial garden at the former Oaklawn Cemetery.