Vacancy

An early look at the Vacancy Strategy Initiative Report shows the number of vacant properties in the city decreased by 4% since 2018.

The Stable Communities STL pilot program used federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to hire contractors to repair vacant or neglected buildings and then pass on those costs to building owners

The city has made progress on two prominent vacant buildings in the past year, but rebounding from a “real estate nightmare” will take many more years.

A study released Wednesday by the Brookings Institution examines how St. Louis could reverse the perception of downtown as a "real estate nightmare" by converting office buildings to residential uses.

The theater is part of the Marquette Homes project, which includes the rehabilitation of six buildings and construction of three others in the Gravois Park and Dutchtown neighborhoods.

It’s a problem that metastasized over decades, making it unrealistic to expect a speedy solution to the roughly 25,000 vacant buildings and lots inside city limits.

Construction is expected to begin next summer on the historic Eliot Elementary School in St. Louis’ Fairground neighborhood. The school will become an addiction treatment center that also addresses homelessness and mental health issues.

The new wellness center, once completed, will offer a place to help men recover from addiction in a region that only has a handful of detox beds.

The region’s urban core has struggled to rebound since the pandemic, with a slew of companies relocating their offices away from downtown. Urban centers with more diverse economic sectors have shown to be more resilient coming back from the pandemic.

There needs to be a reason for employees to return to the office, since the pandemic proved remote work was viable.