Summary

This Board Bill seeks to approve a Redevelopment Plan and Blighting Study for the North Grand Blvd./ Natural Bridge Ave./ North Florissant Ave./Cass Ave./ Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. Redevelopment Area. The Area excludes the NGA St. Louis site and certain properties west of the NGA site. It consists of vacant lots, and occupied and unoccupied residential, institutional, and commercial buildings in an area approximating 821.40 acres in portions of the Carr Square, JeffVanderLou, and St. Louis Place neighborhoods. Within this Area, 61.2% of the properties consist of vacant land or unoccupied buildings, 59.1% of the properties have buildings in poor condition or have no buildings on site, and 71% of the properties in the Area have declined in value in the last 12 years. Limited power of eminent domain within the Area will help clear title issues the properties may have as well as eliminate blight in the Area, clearing the path for future development. Staff supports tax abatement for the Area because of the condition of the properties and therefore recommends up to fifteen years (15) years of tax abatement.