St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved the first reading Thursday of an ordinance that would ask voters to remove the protected park designation from nine city-owned vacant lots in the historic Methodist Town neighborhood, just west of downtown. This will potentially clear the way for up to 41 affordable or workforce housing units.
If approved on second reading, the proposal will appear on the Nov. 3 municipal election ballot. Voters would decide whether to remove the lots from the city’s Charter Park and Waterfront Map, a change city officials say is necessary before the properties can be considered for future housing.
The proposal applies only to the nine vacant lots. Unity Park and the adjacent Jamestown open space would remain protected under the City Charter…