Realizing Resilience: Social Equity and Economic Opportunity, St. Petersburg, Florida

Report Summary: ULI’s Tampa Bay District Council partnered with the Urban Resilience program and the City of St. Petersburg to host a Resilient City Workshop to inform the City’s plan to address climate change.  The workshop primarily focused on economic development and social equity in the face of environmental vulnerabilities, such as sea level rise, storm surge, flooding, and high heat events. The recommendations addressed preparedness and social networks among citizens, neighborhoods, businesses, and the government, and explored means to withstand future shocks and thrive in the face of environmental, social, and economic pressures. The workshop also considered the opportunities presented by the city’s recent commitment to climate action planning and investment in a newly created community redevelopment area (CRA).