St. Pete Daily: Waterfront tech hub vote steps forward, downtown protest, and Grand Prix weekend results
St. Petersburg, FL – March 2, 2026 – Hub expansion moves toward a citywide vote, downtown protest draws crowds, and Grand Prix weekend wraps.
Top story: Hub 2 heads toward a referendum
St. Petersburg is moving toward asking voters to approve a long-term lease at the Port that would allow a second building next to the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub. The proposal describes a roughly 52,000-square-foot facility with an estimated $30 million price tag, aimed at marine science, defense and resiliency work.
City leaders say the next steps include a public hearing and a full council vote to place the lease question on the November ballot. If it reaches voters, it will put a high-visibility decision about waterfront use and future job growth directly on the 2026 election calendar.
Civic snapshot: Downtown protest draws crowd
Over the weekend, about 50 people gathered in and around Williams Park to protest the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and to warn against a wider war. The demonstration included signs and speeches, and it drew attention in the middle of downtown during a busy weekend.
Grand Prix weekend: First Truck street race, then IndyCar opener
The Firestone Grand Prix weekend delivered two big headlines on the same street circuit. On Saturday, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ran its first-ever street course race in downtown St. Pete, with Layne Riggs holding on for the win after a fuel-tight finish.
On Sunday, reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou opened the 2026 season with a commanding victory on the same 1.8-mile layout, leading most of the race and finishing comfortably ahead of the field. With the checkered flags waved, attention now shifts to teardown, reopened streets, and the city’s next set of big-ticket decisions.
Sources
https://hoodline.com/2026/02/st-pete-voters-to-decide-fate-of-30-million-waterfront-defense-hub-2/
https://www.wusf.org/us-world/2026-03-01/protestors-gather-in-downtown-st-petersburg-after-u-s-israeli-attacks-on-iran
https://www.gpstpete.com/news-head/news/387-layne-riggs-hangs-on-to-win-inaugural-truck-series-race-in-st-pete
https://www.gpstpete.com/news-head/news/389-champ-palou-opens-season-with-dominant-march-to-st-pete-win
