Community Development Coordinator
Administrative Intern
The DDA has been a driving force in the development of the downtown since 1998, when they hired a director and began having regular meetings to best serve the needs of the growing community. We welcome inquiries into available properties to buy or lease, in or near our downtown and are ready to assist anyone considering starting a business here.
Downtown St. Louis has changed tremendously over the past several years!
In recent years, with the assistance of several grant programs, the DDA and City have produced nearly $7 million in physical improvements to the downtown area. Newly paved parking lots and alleyways along with Victorian lighting, banners, benches, landscaping, stamped concrete and new curb and gutter can be found in the majority of the DDA area. In 2019 the "main street" of St. Louis, North Mill Street, was completely resurfaced, many curbs redone and sidewalks upgraded. The downtown has a nice mix of businesses serving both citizens and the many visitors who stop in St. Louis throughout the year.
Business activity has increased over this time period as well, with many new businesses locating downtown. Some of the newer businesses include:
- Allegory Tattoo Studio
- Amanda Alward Photography
- Biggby Coffee
- Custom Coatings by Weller
- Fit Fuel Smoothies
- Gratiot Animals In Need (GAIN)
- Health Central
- Namaste Massage
- #1 Chinese & Japanese Restaurant
- Razors Edge Salon
- RedBloom Center for Community Wellness
- St. Louis EZ Mart
- St. Louis Optics
- Taqeria El Primo Mexican Fast Food
TIF
A Tax Increment Financing Program was put into effect in 1999 and the DDA area was expanded to include some sections of M-46. Zoning was improved, as a Transitional Zone was created allowing for homes along M-46 to be used for low-impact businesses such as antique shops, etc. The TIF program provides a steady stream of income for downtown projects and the Central Business District and M-46 continue to develop at a good pace.
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Construction
2015 saw the construction of a new City Hall, Police Department and Community Center in the Central Business District as well as a new St. Louis Area Fire Department building on the edge of the DDA area. Both of these wonderful projects serve the St. Louis community with top-notch facilities and equipment and generate traffic into our business district.
In 2017 the downtown saw completion of the 24-unit senior apartment building, River View Place right across from the new City Hall. The four-story building is a beautiful facility and a tremendous addition to our downtown.
Complementing Downtown St. Louis is the location of St. Louis High School, just one block from the Central Business District, and beautiful Clapp Park on M-46--the official "Middle of the Mitten" as it is the geographic center of the Lower Peninsula. In addition, the area is dotted with many Victorian homes and the St. Louis Area Historical Society depot museum is only three blocks away. Finally, the City-owned W.T. Morris Memorial Swimming Pool was rebuilt with help from the DNR in 2005, at a cost of $400,000, and is a popular attraction downtown during the summer. In 2019 the pool's change house received a $150,000 renovation as well.
DDA meetings are held at 12:15 in Council Chambers in City Hall quarterly on the fourth Thursday of the month: January, April, July, October. Should you have any questions on DDA work, contact Community Development Coordinator Elsie Burton or Administrative Intern Joshua Leppien.
Documents
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- Minutes
- 2025
- 2024 (4)
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- 2023 (4)
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- 2022 (4)
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- 2021 (1)
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- 2020 (2)
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- 2019 (1)
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- 2018 (1)
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- Annual Report on Status of TIF (5)
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Calendar
DDA meetings are currently held quarterly the fourth Thursday of every month at 12:15 in Council Chambers in City Hall in January, April, July, October. Should you have any questions on DDA work, contact Community Development Coordinator Elsie Burton or Administrative Intern Joshua Leppien. We especially welcome inquiries into available properties to buy or lease, in or near our downtown. We are ready to assist anyone considering starting a business here, and would be anxious to talk to anyone interested.