Housing, Urban Development & Zoning Committee - November 2, 2026

The City of St. Louis Housing, Urban Development & Zoning Committee met on November 2, 2026, and advanced Board Bill 90 with a due-pass recommendation after five affirmative votes. The bill establishes a local process for city-initiated receivership of privately owned properties that have been vacant for at least six months and qualify as nuisances, allowing court-appointed receivers to rehabilitate, sell, or, where necessary, demolish them. Testimony described the process as a targeted tool for properties where conventional enforcement or tax foreclosure has not worked, with market viability, a redevelopment plan, and qualified receivers or buyers central to implementation. No specific properties or vendors were selected; members discussed a possible equitable pilot, the need for city staffing and a pool of receivers, and coordination with neighborhood representatives. Speakers noted the city has about 9,000 privately owned vacant buildings and that the tool is not intended for government-owned properties.

The committee also advanced Board Bill 104, the city’s annual HUD Action Plan, with a due-pass recommendation. The presentation reported $17,471,654 in 2027 CDBG funding, a $249,318 decrease from the previous presentation, and a combined CDBG and HOME reduction of $1.884 million from 2021 to 2027. Public-service requests exceeded $8 million, with only 41% fundable under the applicable cap; a slide showed $813,000 in public-service funding. Guardian Angel was identified for a $50,000 child-care award, and SLATE had received $80,000 the prior year for its prison-to-prosperity program. CDA also discussed added flexibility for LRA property repair and maintenance and acknowledged delays in contract processing during 2025–26, partly associated with ARPA deadlines and Oracle workflows; staff expected timelines to improve as ARPA work winds down. No new competitive solicitations or contract awards were reported.