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<br />Cit d <br />.~ <br />un~ity y <br />rim <br /> <br />Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance for Missouri <br />APPLlCA TION <br /> <br />In the early 19th century, Olive Boulevard linked the St. Louis riverfront to the Missouri River. The <br />road became a market route as settlers farmed nearby land. During the Prohibition era, a number of <br />speakeasies and reputed gangster hangouts were located along the corridor. By the late 1920s, <br />businesses catered to traffic along the road. Today, the Olive Boulevard District continues to be auto- <br />oriented. A majority of the frontage along Olive Boulevard is devoted to commercial or <br />industrial! commercial uses (see Figure 1). These uses include convenience goods stores, personal <br />service establishments, and auto service stations. Strip development typically characterizes the <br />commercial areas of Olive Boulevard. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The land use and appearance of Olive Boulevard has long been a major concern for University City <br />residents, the business community and City leaders and an opportunity for major redevelopment <br />success. As a major east-west corridor in the City, Olive Boulevard is a primary image corridor for the <br />City. <br /> <br />Some of the buildings on Olive Boulevard are deteriorating or have unattractive facades. This <br />appearance detracts from the overall quality of the district and can hinder development and commercial <br />activity. With few exceptions, the commercial buildings along Olive Boulevard have no unifying <br />architectural style, creating a fragmented appearance. Buildings typically sit on shallow lots which <br />prohibit expansion and do not relate well to the street or one another. Landscaping is inadequate. <br />Parking is inadequate or inconvenient in many areas. There are also some vacancy/turnover and litter <br />problems in some areas. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The quality of the infrastructure along the corridor is improving as a result of public investment. <br />However, additional investment is needed. <br /> <br />A survey conducted as part of the 2006 Comprehensive Plan Update planning process revealed that <br />enhancing the Olive Boulevard corridor was one of the most frequently cited "single improvement that <br />would help University City the most". <br /> <br />www.ucitymo.org <br />