This is what a New CID looks like.
WORK PLAN
The new CID will be focused on aggressively dealing with quality of life issues for Downtown businesses, workers, visitors and residents. The urgent need is to create the conditions necessary for the economic growth of Downtown. This will not happen unless there is a widespread belief (and reality) that Downtown is safe, clean, and inviting.
The programs, services, and capital improvements to be provided by the District will be focused in three general areas: safety and security, public space management and infrastructure, and marketing and economic development. The District will address these areas with a small, expert, dedicated staff, supplemented by contracted services and leveraging services provided by the City of St. Louis and others.
Safety & Security.
Safety and Security
The District will facilitate a renewed and aggressive focus on safety and security, targeting the persistent problems of homelessness, cruising, illegal drug sales, problem liquor licensees and nuisance properties, all of which contribute to criminal activity. Strategies will be developed that address the root causes of persistent crime which will be implemented in partnership with SLMPD, and go far beyond simply deploying manpower on the streets. Substantial resources are available to address these problems and the District will play a pivotal role in facilitating the deployment of resources to maximum effect. Tactics will be evaluated on a continuous basis, communicated regularly to property owners, and performance measures put in place.
Public Management & Infrastructure.
Public Space Management and Infrastructure
The District will focus on improving the operational and physical aspects of Downtown’s public spaces, including streets, sidewalks, and parks, knitting together Downtown’s private properties in a way that allows them to prosper. Physical improvements that the District will target, using District funds and other mostly government and private funds it will endeavor to raise, will include new sidewalks, street trees, lighting, medians, two-way streets, bike infrastructure, park improvements, traffic calming devices, and repaved streets. Operational improvements will include traffic light synchronization, extensive landscaping, wayfinding, removal of sidewalk obstructions, reorganization of the clean team, and a completely redone metered parking system.
Economic Development.
Economic Development
While the conditions for sustainable economic growth will be enhanced by improvements in actual and perceived safety, as well as improvements to the physical public realm, the District’s staff and board will make significant efforts to support developers, businesses and property owners in improving the attractiveness of investing in and being Downtown. There will be a particular focus on continuing to grow the innovation community that is thriving Downtown, as well as supporting the development of a concentrated retailing area that ultimately will attract national scale merchants present in many other center cities.
