Latest news with #CopleyGerdes
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
St. Petersburg to explore demolishing Tampa Bay Rowdies stadium
ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Ken Welch's administration has unveiled a proposal to remake the city's downtown waterfront that includes demolishing Al Lang Stadium. Under a conceptual plan presented to City Council members on Thursday, Al Lang would be turned into an outdoor amphitheater. St. Petersburg officials have long wished to better connect the Mahaffey Theater and the Dalí Museum and create a more cohesive space with curb appeal. But the proposal to get rid of Al Lang Stadium, the next-door home of Tampa Bay Rowdies, the minor league soccer team owned by the Tampa Bay Rays, alarmed City Council members. 'I'm struggling with totally removing Al Lang Stadium,' said council chairperson Copley Gerdes. 'A stadium which is 80 years old with a massive amount of history especially when we're contemplating the future of the Historic Gas Plant and what that might look like.' The proposal comes weeks after the Rays announced that they were pulling out of plans to build a new $1.3 billion downtown stadium for the baseball team. It included plans to redevelop the Gas Plant district, a historically Black part of St. Petersburg once located at the Rays' current home, Tropicana Field. Relations have soured between Welch and Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, with the mayor saying he would never again negotiate with Sternberg. Council members wondered whether team ownership had been consulted about the Al Lang proposal. 'It seems like they weren't included at all,' said council member Richie Floyd. 'I just wondered what the thought process was for what seems like a major partner there, for their future not to be implicated in this.' Beth Herendeen, managing director of city development, said she has spoken with Rowdies President Ryan Helfrick. She said the city is currently working on a lease renewal for the Rowdies, whose current contract at Al Lang expires later this year. 'They're involved and they're aware,' she said. Demolition of Al Lang would take place sometime after 2028, according to the proposal presented to council members on Thursday. Plans also include building a 400-car garage and a new facility for the Florida Orchestra. The amphitheater would be comparable to the BayCare Sound in Clearwater 'but way better,' said ASD | Sky consultant John Curran. Council members expressed interest in plans to redevelop the Center of the Arts. But getting rid of Al Lang Stadium, a site that once hosted spring training games, didn't go over well. 'That made my eye twitch a little bit because I can't imagine not having Al Lang Stadium. I can't imagine not having the Rowdies,' said council member Gina Driscoll, who represents downtown. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Vote on Tropicana Field roof repairs delayed to April 3
The St. Petersburg City Council will decide on whether to replace the roof of Tropicana Field a week later than planned. City Administrator Rob Gerdes emailed council members Friday to let them know city staff was still working on 'contractual details' for the Trop's roof repair, which is expected to cost $22.7 million, according to contract drafts. Council chairperson Copley Gerdes confirmed Monday that the vote had been pushed off to April 3. It had been scheduled for Thursday. Hurricane Milton last October blew the roof off the Trop, exposing the field, seats and offices inside. Under the agreement between the city and the Tampa Bay Rays, the city as the Trop's landlord is obligated to 'diligently pursue' repairs to make the dome suitable for home games again. The city says it is still on track to fix the Trop by opening day 2026. The Rays are playing at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa in the meantime. 'We don't anticipate this creating any issue with our current timeline for work to occur,' Rob Gerdes wrote. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
St. Pete families left with extremely high water bills after hurricanes may getting relief
The Brief St. Pete City Council passed a series of resolutions on Thursday to help get relief to families facing extremely high water bills. The City Council's 'Committee of the Whole' meeting brought over two hours of residents' complaints about high water bills in the months after Hurricane Helene and Milton. Council members passed three resolutions aimed at streamlining adjustments to bills that, in some cases, cost homeowners thousands of dollars. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Relief may be on the way for families in St. Petersburg who faced extremely high water bills following Hurricanes Helene and Milton after city council members passed a series of resolutions on Thursday. Big picture view For more than two hours, St. Petersburg City Council's Committee of the Whole discussed residents' complaints regarding excessively high water bills in the months after back-to-back hurricanes last year. RELATED:High water bills: St. Pete leaders vote to stop late fees, water shut offs after resident complaints Council passed three resolutions aimed at streamlining adjustments to bills that, in some cases, cost homeowners thousands of dollars. Council members said customers who were overcharged should see their bills come down to the lowest possible level. "Today, if you have a delayed bill or if you have an overage, you will be able to reach out to the city and have them fix that departmentally without having to prove that there wasn't a leak with a plumber," said Councilman Copley Gerdes. "The relief you'll get is it'll come down to the lowest tier, which will be the Tampa Bay Water tier eventually if the ordinance is passed." What they're saying Dozens of homeowners reached out to FOX 13 after we first reported the issues several weeks ago, which is among the reasons the topic ended up in front of city council. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Experts with the city's water services department told council a number of the homeowners who were overcharged likely had issues with their toilets. They believe flooding caused a series of plumbing issues, including broken pipes and water pressure changes that caused toilets to run nonstop. That, however, didn't happen in every situation and city crews continue to investigate. City staff told council that homeowners can request a refund, even though many of them received a credit on their account. The city said it would also like to convert all water meters to digital ones in the coming months to help ensure accurate readings and timely responses to leaks. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
