Blake Investment Partners Announces Strategic Partnership with Stadler Development, Names Stadler “Office Czar” in Historic Gas Plant District Bid
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Blake Investment Partners (BIP) today announced that its forthcoming bid to redevelop the Tropicana Field site—known as the Historic Gas Plant District—will include a strategic partnership with Stadler Development, a St. Petersburg–based real estate firm with a strong track record in institutional-grade office and mixed-use development. As part of the proposal, Stadler Development will serve as the project’s “Office Czar,” charged with helping reverse a nearly 30-year absence of new Class A office construction in the city.
A Commitment to Heritage and “Hands-On History”
BIP’s team recognizes that the Historic Gas Plant District carries deep cultural and historical significance for St. Petersburg’s African American community, reflecting a painful legacy of displacement in which homes, businesses, and churches were removed.
In response, the BIP proposal is grounded in a commitment to restorative justice and meaningful inclusion. Central to this approach is the principle of “hands-on history,” where history shapes decisions, opportunities, and access, ensuring that the legacy of the Historic Gas Plant District is actively integrated into the district’s future.
Honoring the history means restoring economic opportunity to a site that once supported Black-owned businesses, professional offices, and generational wealth. The team is committed to creating pathways for the African American community, to participate in the economic, cultural, and social revitalization of the site. Delivering high-quality office development is a critical part of that commitment— creating long-term jobs, supporting minority-owned firms, and ensuring that economic activity on the site benefits the community for decades, not just during construction.
Stadler Development: Leading the Office Vision
To ensure the Historic Gas Plant District functions as a sustainable economic engine, BIP has selected Stadler Development to lead the commercial office strategy. Stadler brings deep local roots and extensive experience delivering complex, high-quality projects, including:
- Local Mixed-Use Leadership: Prominent St. Petersburg developments such as The Hermitage (345 units), The Icon (368 units), Modera Prime (383 units), and Gallery Haus (204 units).
- The Alhambra (Coral Gables, Fla): A 12-story, 400,000-square-foot office landmark serving as the global headquarters for Del Monte and Norwegian Cruise Line.
- Columbus Center (Coral Gables, Fla): A 16-story office tower totaling 270,000 square feet and home to IBM’s regional headquarters.
Building a Modern Commercial Hub
The BIP proposal will outline a vision for delivering the first ground-up Class A office space constructed in St. Petersburg in three decades. Key components of the commercial strategy include:
- Purpose-Built Corporate Headquarters: Customized office environments designed to attract anchor tenants and high-wage employment opportunities.
- Speculative Class A Office Space: Flexible, modern workplaces that position St. Petersburg to compete for regional and national firms seeking a premier Florida location.
- Institutional Standards: Drawing on Stadler’s experience managing complex, high-density projects, including The Pelican, a recently approved 21-story Class A office tower in downtown St. Petersburg.
“We are approaching this opportunity with a responsibility to build a more equitable future,” said Caryn Nesmith, a BIP spokesperson. “Partnering with Stadler Development strengthens the vision of supporting thriving businesses and quality jobs in the Historic Gas Plant, while paying respect to the community that once called this site home.”
BIP has recently announced the addition of several expert partners to support its Historic Gas Plant District proposal, including Greystar, Gilbane Building Company, MODO, Stantec, Langan Engineering, and Wade Trim, bringing deep experience in development, construction, architecture, and infrastructure delivery for large-scale urban projects. BIP has also partnered with Blue Sky Communities, one of Florida’s most experienced affordable and workforce housing developers, to help advance a housing vision focused on affordability at the Historic Gas Plant District and throughout the city of St. Petersburg.
About Stadler Development
Stadler Development is a Florida-based real estate firm known for delivering high-quality residential, office, and mixed-use projects that reflect the character and needs of the communities they serve. The firm is deeply committed to St. Petersburg and to creating environments where people can live, work, and connect.
About Blake Investment Partners
Blake Investment Partners is an institutional investment firm focused on transformative real estate development and community-centered redevelopment initiatives.
Note: Rendering attached of Stadler Development’s previously proposed mixed-use project at 910 2nd Avenue South in St. Petersburg, featuring an office tower, residential tower, and ground-floor retail. The concept included approximately 216,000 square feet of office space, 350 residential units, 5,000 square feet of retail, and structured parking, illustrating Stadler’s experience delivering complex, institutional-grade urban development in St. Petersburg.
Media Contact
Caryn Nesmith
caryn@commbuilding.com
202-288-6114