Construction has started on a project to connect two major Downtown anchors with 7th Street between Ballpark Village and America’s Center on Washington Avenue.
The project, funded with $3.7 million in public and private funds, continues the work of the partnership between the city and the business community to make Downtown “safe, vibrant, and beautiful,” according to Mayor Tishaura O. Jones.
When complete, 7th Street Downtown will have new sidewalks, trees, lighting, protected bicycle lanes that connect to the Brickline Greenway, and more.
“The most exciting downtown areas worldwide are those packed with people, not cars,” said Jones. “Making 7th Street, from Ballpark Village to the Convention Center, a more walkable and bikeable space with new sidewalks, lighting, trees, and a bike path is another way we’re using public-private partnerships.”
In May, Greater St. Louis Inc., joined with Jones, Neal Richardson, SLDC president and CEO, SLMPD Chief Robert Tracy, and Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore to launch the public-private partnership to revitalize Downtown and announce a plan to address vacant properties including the Railway Exchange Building and the Millennium Hotel.
Since the announcement, the city filed an eminent domain petition to take control of the Railway Exchange; Gateway Arch Park Foundation signed a contract to bring the Millennium Hotel under local control.
In addition, Arch to Park Equity Fund, the patient capital real estate investment fund coordinated by GSL, signed a contract to ensure the historic Wainwright Building stays under local control.
Also, funding was awarded to several small businesses to open new or expand street-level retail establishment through the GSL-SLDC Downtown Retail Incentive Program, and the Downtown Public Safety Ambassadors Program was launched to increase the visible public safety presence on Downtown streets.
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