OSNA Board of Directors met with Alison Barlow and Mario Farias on May 30th to discuss the plans and changes coming to the Salt Creek area, just north of our Old Southeast neighborhood. The following is meant to share information about the upcoming planning sessions so that you are prepared to participate in the planning session for this district.
Alison Barlow is the Executive Director of the Innovation District
Mario Farias is a South St Petersburg native and business man interested in bringing positive change to the area.
The Innovation District has partnered with the City of St. Petersburg to develop a Master Plan for the Innovation District and the eastern side of Salt Creek. This will be similar to master plans for the Warehouse Arts District, Deuces Live, EDGE District, etc. The planning process should start in June (awaiting the signed paperwork from the City) and run for 10–12 months. The consulting firm selected is Kimley-Horn. They will be holding several community planning sessions, including at least one that is specifically for the Old Southeast Neighborhood. The Master Plan will consider recommendations for amenities such as housing, retail, office space, academic classrooms, maritime test & evaluation sites, daycare, shared parking, parks and other public spaces throughout the District, as well as the zoning and other infrastructure requirements to support those recommendations.
Please find an overview about the District and the master plan below:
The St. Petersburg Innovation District (the District) is a public-private partnership (nonprofit) focused on increasing economic vibrancy and innovative problem solving in the Tampa Bay region. The District was formed in 2016 by the major employers in the area – USF, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Bayfront Hospital, as well as partners – City of St. Pete, St. Pete Downtown Partnership and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete.
To learn more about the origin of the District visit: https://www.
The District is structured around the international framework for Innovation Districts with three components:
1. PHYSICAL ASSETS: Creating public and privately owned spaces designed to stimulate connectivity and collaboration. Examples: Employment Center-2 zoning in the northern portion of the Innovation District, new crosswalks on 4th Street (coming);
2. ECONOMIC ASSETS: Attracting and supporting innovation driver organizations, innovation cultivators, and neighborhood-building amenities. Examples: The Library Restaurant, ARK Innovation Center, Maritime and Defense Technology Hub, a co-working facility for the maritime technology and national security sectors;
3. NETWORKING ASSETS: Facilitating formal and informal relationships that have the potential to generate, sharpen and accelerate the advancement of ideas. Examples: the Ocean Team, a premier consortium of marine science and related entities in the Southeast; and the St. Petersburg Science Festival, an annual exploration of science and technology for youth.
The District boundaries are intended to align to neighborhoods (not overlap). As a result, it is an odd shape. To see the map visit: https://www.
· Northern border is along 5th Ave South from western corner (Staybridge Suites at MLK St) to the eastern corner (Dali Museum).
· Eastern border is from the Dali Museum along the waterfront through Bayboro Harbor and down Salt Creek to approx. 18th Ave South. The eastern side of Salt Creek was included in early planning versions of the Innovation District map but by the time the District borders were documented it was omitted. I don’t know why. The eastern side will be included in the upcoming Master Plan work and if the landowners support it, we will recommend inclusion moving forward.
· Western border is from Staybridge Suites down Booker Creek to along 4th Street (border runs on the west side of the parcels along 4th street – commercial entities). The western border ends at approx. 18th Ave South.