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The St. Petersburg City Council has approved a resolution opposing Mayor Ken Welch’s advancement of Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment before negotiations even begin.
The move hands Brandi Gabbard, the resolution’s sponsor, a political victory over Welch as the future of the site emerges as a defining issue in St. Petersburg’s 2026 mayoral race. Gabbard plans to challenge Welch.
The resolution, which is non-binding, calls for a pause until an independent study can be conducted to determine best uses. Gabbard said a pause would not derail redevelopment, noting that a third-party planning effort could be completed in roughly six months.
– Jesse Mendoza, Florida Politics