What does the future of St. Pete really look like?
In Episode 100 of Talkin’ St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Mayor Ken Welch for one of the biggest conversations we’ve had on the show so far.
From the future of the Rays and Tropicana Field to the Historic Gas Plant District, affordable housing, hurricane recovery, infrastructure, transportation, and local business growth, this episode covers a lot of the topics people around St. Pete have been talking about lately.
Mayor Welch talks about the city’s partnership with Pinellas County, the $300 million connected to the original Rays deal, why the city decided not to put more money into it, and what the future could look like after 2028.
The conversation also goes into the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District and why he believes the promises tied to that land still matter today, especially when it comes to housing, jobs, and opportunities for the community.
The episode also covers:
- The future of the Rays in St. Pete
- What could happen around Tropicana Field after 2028
- Affordable and workforce housing
- Growth happening around Downtown St. Pete
- How local businesses are affected by the Rays
- A possible convention center in St. Pete
- Hurricane Helene and Milton recovery
- The Hometown Haulers cleanup program
- Moving 2 million cubic yards of debris in 90 days
- The proposed $600M SPAR / GO Bond for infrastructure upgrades
- Improvements to water systems, drainage, and flooding issues
- Transportation plans like the SunRunner and ferry expansion
- Keeping the local feel of St. Pete as the city keeps growing
Mayor Welch also talks about growing up in St. Pete, seeing how much the city has changed over the years, and the challenge of keeping that balance between growth and preserving what makes the city special in the first place.
If you live in St. Pete, own a business here, or just care about where the city is headed, this is one you’ll probably want to watch all the way through.
🎙️ Real conversations with people shaping St. Pete.
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➜ Ryan Bogden is a licensed REALTOR®.
➜ Sponsored by Bogden Homes:
https://www.bogdenhomes.com
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