Priority Sites & Projects

In 2022, SLDC identified several key Development Board-owned priority sites and projects within the Economic Justice Demonstration Areas that will catalyze equitable economic growth. Using our Roadmap for Redevelopment, we are currently focusing our efforts on a handful of those sites, which are in varying stages of community engagement and stabilization:

Chuck Berry House: 3137 Whittier Street

Objective(s): Stabilize structure, community engagement in revisioning and reuse, market site for future redevelopment.

Source of funds: Economic Development Sales Tax Fund

Completed to-date: Structural assessment, report, repair recommendations, and cost estimations. Execution of supplemental structural engineering service agreement and creation of detailed technical specifications and drawings. Selection of contractor for stabilization work.

Ongoing: Community Development Administration reviewing stabilization contract.

Next Steps: Notice To Proceed with Structural Repair and Related Work (Estimated date for stabilization work to be completed – Late 2025)

Sara Lou Café: 4067 Saint Louis Avenue

Objective(s): Stabilize structure, community engagement in revisioning and reuse, market site for future redevelopment.

Source of funds: Economic Development Sales Tax Fund

Completed to-date: Structural assessment, report, repair recommendations and cost estimations. Contract execution of the supplemental structural engineering services agreement. Creation of stabilization construction documents. RFB for stabilization issued.

Ongoing: Community Development Administration reviewing stabilization contract.

Next Steps: Notice To Proceed with Structural Repair and Related Work (Estimated date for stabilization work to be completed – Late 2025).

Wellston Station: 6111 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive

Objective(s): Stabilize structure for future redevelopment

Source of Funds: LRA Proactive Development & Rehabilitation Fund

Completed to-date: Hazardous material cleanup and partial demolition down to the building’s framework have begun, along with initial shoring efforts. Comprehensive structural inspection and recommendations.

Ongoing: A comprehensive structural inspection report with repair recommendations, to be prepared by Vestal Corporation, is underway. This report will be completed following the full demolition, cleanup, and shoring processes.

Next Steps: Issue Request for Bids. Select general contractor. Issue Notice to Proceed on stabilization. Complete stabilization by end of 2025.

Club Imperial: 6306 W. Florissant Avenue

Objective(s): Stabilize structure for future redevelopment

Source of Funds: LRA Proactive Development & Rehabilitation Fund

Completed to-date A safety report with repair recommendations has been prepared by David Mason. Scaffolding and fence repairs.

Ongoing: Community engagement.

Next Steps: To get an in-depth structural inspection report with repair recommendations prepared by David Mason. Collaborate with developers, alderwomen, community leaders, and the public to define the next steps for the future of this building.

Marshall School: 4322 Aldine

Objective(s): Stabilize structure for future redevelopment

Source of Funds: ARPA LCRA Proactive Development & Site Assembly Fund

Completed to-date EPA technical assistance reuse plan completed April 2023.

Ongoing: Procurement of structural and environmental engineers for assessment.

Next Steps: Get appraisal. Bid out and commence stabilization measures. Prepare a Request for Proposals to identify a valid and feasible redevelopment proposal.

Cleveland High School: 4352 Louisiana Avenue

Objective(s): Stabilize structure for future redevelopment, market site for future redevelopment.

Source of Funds: LCRA Proactive Development & Site Assembly Fund 23-SLFRF-43

Completed to-date

Ongoing: Engaging with a partnership with The St. Louis Community Foundation to engage a structural engineer to evaluate the property and prepare a scope of work for stabilization. EPA technical assistance for reuse planning.

Next Steps: Gain site control via purchase or long-term assignable option that allows for stabilization work. Finalize structural inspection report with repair recommendations prepared by engineer with stabilization recommendations. Bid out and commence stabilization measures. Prepare a Request for Proposals to identify a valid and feasible redevelopment proposal.

Railway Exchange Building: 600 Locust Street

Objective(s): Market site for future redevelopment.

Source of Funds: Outside sources/ARPA LCRA Land Assemblage Fund

Completed to-date Eminent domain process initiated. Court-appointed commissioners valued property at $7.3 million. LCRA paid $2.6M for garage and surface lot on city block 129. Building Division marked garage for emergency demolition.

Ongoing: Selection of contractor to demo garage. Waiting for Board of Aldermen to approve bill possibly allocating money towards Railway Exchange. Parcel owner appealed eminent domain price. City of St. Louis/Greater St. Louis Inc. providing security for site.

Next Steps: Gain site control of building via purchase with Ram Settlement dollars or other source. Have parking garage demolished soon after acquisition. Prepare a Request for Proposals to identify a valid and feasible redevelopment proposal.

Municipal Courts Building: 1320 Market Street

Objective(s): Market site for future redevelopment.

Source of Funds: TBD

Completed to-date RFP bids.

Ongoing: City received two proposals from developers.

Next Steps: Prepare report for city to review proposals. Assisting with the convening of a selection committee to recommend potential redeveloper to Board of Aldermen. (Could be subject to change)

Millennium Hotel: 200 South 4th Street

Objective(s): Assist Gateway Arch Park Foundation in marketing site for redevelopment.

Source of Funds: TBD

Completed to-date Assisted Gateway Arch Park Foundation with the redevelopment plan/blighting study. Arch Park Foundation issued RFP and selected Cordish Co. as redeveloper.

Ongoing: Structural and environmental assessment.

Next Steps: Gateway Arch Park Foundation to close on property. Remediation and demo bids solicited and awarded.

Roadmap for Redevelopment of Priority Projects

The Monarch on MLK Campus for Economic Mobility: 3940 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive

In October 2023, the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis (LCRA) —a development board staffed by the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) —purchased a 150,000-square-foot industrial building at 3940 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in North St. Louis, along with 29 surrounding vacant parcels. Once redeveloped, the 15.39-acre site will transform into an innovative transit-accessible workforce and training campus for manufacturing and other high-paying, in-demand careers.

Development/Stakeholder Update

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