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Hundreds To Gather For Discussion On Trop's Fate

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By CARLOS MONCADA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - More than 300 people, ranging from heads of corporations to politicians to ordinary residents, will gather tonight to discuss a proposal to redevelop Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays since 1998.

The public meeting, from 6 to 9 p.m., will focus on what to do with the 86-acre Tropicana site that the Rays want to sell as part of the team's proposal to build a ballpark on the downtown waterfront by 2012. Most of the money for the new stadium, expected to cost $450 million, would come from money raised by razing and redeveloping Tropicana Field, owned by Pinellas County.

"We're setting the room up for 400 people,'' said Dave Goodwin, St. Petersburg economic development director.

Goodwin said that because of the large crowd expected, attendees will hold group discussions at tables and be asked to fill out a survey form, with the results possibly available by the end of the meeting.

The Rays envision the site as a multiuse retail and residential development. They hired Houston-based developer Hines Interests to draw up plans for a neighborhood there with 1 million square feet of retail and restaurant space. The project also would include about 900 square feet of residential units, mainly four-and five-story apartment and condo buildings interspersed with boulevards, ponds and parks.

The city council is set to decide Jan. 17 whether to issue a request for proposals for the redevelopment project from developers, with responses due in 60 to 120 days. The council also must approve adding to the November ballot a referendum asking voters to approve the new stadium on the site of Al Lang Field, the Rays' spring training home through March. Construction on both projects would begin in mid-2009.

Among people expected tonight are Craig Sher, president and chief executive officer of The Sembler Cos., Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch and Barbara Heck, president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations. Most people on the list are residents, including season ticket holders, and business owners or representatives.

The meeting will be at the stadium. To attend, enter through the Rotunda, or Gate 1, off Third Avenue South on the stadium's east side. Parking at Tropicana Field lots will be free. For information, call (727) 893-7100.

Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at cmoncada@tampatrib.com or (727) 451-2333.

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