Project Summary



Community: St. Louis, Missouri



Technical Assistance: Market Analysis

Former Use: Vacant Commercial and Office Space

Future Use: New Commercial and Retail

Development



Once the economic hub and Main Street of the city, Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Drive has experienced
economic and physical decline in recent decades as
residents moved out of the urban core of St. Louis to more
suburban areas. The St. Louis Development Corporation
(SLDC) has identified four properties for redevelopment
along the MLK Corridor that, when paired with existing
small businesses and the strong sense of community
among longstanding residents, can contribute to
successful redevelopment in the area.

The Community's Challenge

The Vandeventer and Ville neighborhoods, located
adjacent to MLK drive, were historically centers of African
American culture and economic activity, but have more
recently experienced increased vacancy, unemployment,
and population loss. The four properties identified by
SLDC present an opportunity to serve as a catalyst for
redevelopment along the greater corridor.

EPA's Land Revitalization Technical Assistance
In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Land
Revitalization Program provided contractor technical
assistance to perform a market analysis to identify
redevelopment opportunities for the four properties along
MLK Drive. The team analyzed demographic, retail, and
real estate data to understand the demand for reuse
opportunities. The team additionally participated in a two-

day site visit to engage with community stakeholders and
workforce development organizations.

The results of the market analysis identified two buildings
that can support new retail and commercial development
and should be paired with additional housing opportunities
to contribute to neighborhood revitalization and increase
demand for new businesses. Potential redevelopment
opportunities include health and personal care stores,
daily shopping retail stores, community gathering places,
affordable housing units, or new restaurants. Current
market conditions also indicate that new developments
should occur in phases to avoid overwhelming the market
while concurrently building demand in the area.

Recommendation Summary Table for Target Sites

Future Use

Opportunity Provided

Health &
Personal Care
Stores

A new health and personal care store can fill
the existing retail gap and connect older
individuals in the community to needed
healthcare and medicine.

Daily Shopping
Retail Options

There is an existing market demand for
additional general merchandise stores,
which can also drive demand for new
housing development.

Community
Gathering Place

A highly requested space by residents, a
gathering space can increase social
cohesion and provide needed cultural
space.

Housing

New affordable housing units can draw new
residents to the area and support further
business development.

Restaurant

Residents expressed interest in new
restaurants that appeal to a family
demographic and are open in the evenings.

For more information, contact David Doyle, EPA Region 7
Brownfields Program, dovle.david@epa.gov.

United States
Environmental Protection
^*^1 M * Agency

Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
560-F-22-034


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