ST. LOUIS—Mayor Tishaura Jones signed legislation Tuesday that could plot a new course for improving neighborhoods surrounding the new National Geospatial Intelligence headquarters under construction in North St. Louis and set to open in 2026.
Board Bill 174 sets a redevelopment plan and blight study for more than 800 acres of property in the Jeff Vanderlou and St. Louis Place neighborhoods which surround the NGA campus.
According to the city, at least 60% of the properties in that area have vacant land or are unoccupied and almost 60% have either no buildings or structures that are in poor condition.
The bill allows for limited use of eminent domain as part of redevelopment and would require any buyer to provide relocation expenses.
The bill’s sponsor, Alderman Rasheen Aldridge said the measure protects residents against the threat of gentrification and encourages reinvestment.
“I’m excited for existing residents that’ve been there for generations an generations and passed the house down from grandma to nephew to whoever it is to be able to rebuild their current home…an opportunity for this community to get some TLC that hasn’t happened in a very long time. I think this is a great opportunity and I’m excited for what the future holds for this community,” he said.
“I hope that these neighborhoods that surround NGA are vibrant and thriving in several years. That the houses that are currently there are repaired or rehabbed and add to the beautiful landscape because St. Louis has some of the most beautiful architecture I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m also hopeful that we attract more retail because people bring retail,” Mayor Jones said.
More than 3,000 federal employees at the NGA will move into the new facility at Cass and Jefferson in 2026. Jones said Tuesday there had been no discussion about what the federal government plans to do with the existing campus on 2nd street downtown, which has housed the NGA and its predecessor agencies since 1952.