Council considers Al Lang's future
With the Tampa Bay Rays' waterfront stadium plan indefinitely delayed, City Council Member Jeff Danner says its time for the city to make good on its promise to zone Al Lang Field as downtown parkland.
Danner has asked the council to discuss the historic ball park's future at Thursday's council meeting.
"I always thought it should be designated with the downtown park designation," he said in an interview last week. "I got the message that that’s what people wanted."
The zoning debate is really a symbolic issue. Rezoning Al Lang, which now is zoned to allow for commercial and residential development, doesn't mean the city has to bulldoze the site and build a park. And no matter what, the Rays will have to seek voter approval through a referendum in order to build a stadium at Al Lang.
But Mayor Rick Baker and other city officials have said it would be better to postpone any action regarding Al Lang until a new baseball coalition decides where the stadium should go.
"We have to leave our options open," said Council Member Wengay Newton. "I can’t see anything happening with Al Lang right now."
Residents first asked the council to convert Al Lang into parkland in August. The council said it would once the Rays' proposal was no longer on the table.
The Tampa Bay Rays continue to pursue plans for a new baseball stadium. Host 
Another example of the Mayor and Councii ignoring the will of the voters. Citizens have made it abundantly clear they want Al Lang zoned DCP (parkland) via many visioning sessions and the Mayor and Council refuse to acknowledge this. Plaudits to Jeff Danner for finally attempting to bring this to the fore. The Mayor has plans for this property apparantly that do not include parkland despite what happens to the Ray's proposal. More of our city government in action!
Posted by: Bill | July 07, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Thanks, to Council member Danner!
Changing the Al Lang zoning is clearly what the citizens have asked for through the Vision 20/20 process, the LDR process and many other Visioning sessions.
Changing the Zoning designation from DC3 to DCP is a great first start!
Thank you.
Posted by: Clear Direction | July 07, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Obviously, the staff wants us to know that the waterfront is not off the table for a new ballpark.
Posted by: Frank | July 07, 2008 at 06:00 PM
ATTENTION CITY COUNCIL:
I urge you NOT to buy into the myth that the outcome of the many "visioning" sessions is, in any way, representative of the opinions of the electorate.
Although the visioning process was impressive and drew hundreds of participants, the outcome of the process should be used as a STARTING POINT, not an ending point, when considering what the people of St. Petersburg want.
There are nearly 100,000 voters in St. Pete. The opinions of hundreds who could spare time to participate in the visioning process does NOT EQUATE to the opinions of the city-wide electorate.
Many, many voters intentionally opted NOT to participate in the Visioning process because they viewed the final product as an advisory opinion. Even though great efforts were made to make the visioning process open and inclusive, MOST VOTERS did not participate in the process.
It would be a HUGE mistake to accept the outcome of the visioning process as being representative of the views of the city-wide population.
I urge not to make the error.
Posted by: Rick K | July 07, 2008 at 06:13 PM
6:00
The "staff" will be swept away with the other debris.
Miraculous political transformations WILL occcur and be entertaining.
This debate has opened Pandoras "subsidy" Box.
Thank You Rays!
Posted by: since1962 | July 07, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Rick,
You have officially gone off the deep end. Clearly you have little to ZERO knowledge of this city's history, being from Ohio.
Exactly how long have you been a resident and registered voter of St. Petersburg, anyway?
I urge to to retract your nonsensical post above because you have absolutely NO idea what you're talking about.
If you did, you would TRULY understand why the Rays are no longer seeking a referendum on Al Lang.
Posted by: John | July 07, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Al Lang as DCP? Yes. Finally!
Jeff Danner should bring it up and Karl Nurse and or Herb Polson should fight over who gets to second the motion.
Mr. Rick K. should get real. Forces are moving to close the waterfront as a site. Either the city does it or the people will.
Posted by: Tombstone | July 07, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Tombstone,
Don't forget Leslie Curran, she's been on board with protecting Al Lang, and has been from the beginning.
If it goes to a council vote:
Nurse - YES (to AL Lang PARK)
Danner - Yes
Curran - Yes
Dudley - Yes
Newton - No
Bennett - Yes
Kennedy - Yes
Posted by: John | July 07, 2008 at 06:42 PM
John, how many of those Council Members do you think will be willing to push some question about Al Lang forward BEFORE the Stadium committee is done deliberating?
Posted by: Rick K | July 07, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Rick K, don't you have vacation or something else to do? Why is it you have to comment ON EVERYTHING!
Posted by: Tombstone | July 08, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Protecting Al Lang means tearing it down eventually. Just say what it actually is - baseball has been condemned here after 90 years.
No spring training is coming back unless you put a lot of money into renovation and expansion which would probably be protested again and would be limited by this move.
Theres no sense paying for maintenance of a empty ballpark for the next decade. If they do this they should show the public the real outcome long term.
Maybe the Dali museum would be better here closer to central. I just don't think this entire area should be just more grass to mow.
Posted by: J | July 08, 2008 at 11:39 PM
The Dali WILL be opening next "door".
Floridas best attended museum.
Encased in glass amoeba like sculpture.
Where do you live that you do not know this?
Posted by: since1962 | July 09, 2008 at 12:36 AM