Blight

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen said no to a bill to extend a blight determination on the Cortex Innovation District, marking an end to nearly two decades in the area.

St. Louis has roughly 20,000 vacant properties, most of which are in north city and have no buildings on them.

There are 7,000 vacant buildings and more than 10,000 vacant lots in St. Louis. Many of the structures are beyond repair, so the demolition of 30 vacant…