Planning Commission Meeting - April 8, 2026

The City of St. Louis Planning Commission held a meeting on April 8, 2026, focusing on several key procurement and redevelopment initiatives. A major agenda item was the approval of a blighting study and redevelopment plan for properties at 4500 to 4518 Washington Avenue, involving historic building renovation and new construction of residential units, including affordable housing. The project, estimated at $6.3 million in construction costs, includes tax abatements to support financial feasibility, with a 10-year 90% tax abatement approved by the commission. The developer and city staff discussed project timelines, parking, and sustainability features. The commission also reviewed and affirmed a prioritization memo outlining six key planning priorities for the year, including zoning code rewrites, adaptive reuse provisions, smoke shop regulations, gas station standards, urban design regulations for redevelopment plans, and right-of-way vacation criteria. Additionally, an informational update was provided on Plan Area 6, a neighborhood-focused industrial redevelopment plan emphasizing job creation and economic development on several large vacant parcels. The meeting included discussions on coordination with SLDC, neighborhood engagement, and the integration of economic feasibility studies. The commission passed motions to recommend the redevelopment plan and to affirm the planning priorities for the year, signaling active procurement and redevelopment efforts in the city.