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OLIVETTE/UNIVERSITY CITY I-170/OLIVE BOULEVARD JOINT REDEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE INTRODUCTION In May 2009, the Joint Redevelopment Task Force (Task Force) was tasked by the City Councils of University City and Olivette to explore redevelopment opportunities and joint initiatives in the Olive Boulevard corridor on the east and west sides of the intersection with I-170. The Task Forceassignment had many components, including the charge to: identify and discuss similarities and differences between the communities relating to long-range redevelopment goals and objectives; develop principles and goals to guide redevelopment in both communities; solicit expert opinion about the redevelopment principles and make appropriate adjustments; develop action steps to accomplish the long-range redevelopment principles and goals; identify experienced developers; explore available financing and potential joint governance mechanisms. BACKGROUND Over the years, both the City of Olivette and the City of University City have experienced redevelopment pressure at the I-170/Olive interchange. However, the complexities of the area in terms of land assemblage, roadinfrastructure, and utility services, have presented major obstacles for private development to take root on its own. Each city has actively pursued redevelopment opportunities supported with public financing and redevelopment assistance. Even with these incentives, the development community, the “Market”, has not found significant redevelopment attractive. Overall, the existing conditions area detriment to the quality of the Olive Boulevard corridor, and hamper the economic vitality of each community by failing to generate rising tax revenue and by discouraging reinvestment in and maintenance ofthe area. The area is characterized by a predominance of dilapidated structures, excessive vacancies, depreciation of physical maintenance and a lack of unified planning.Many of the parcels are functionally or economically obsolete. The lots are shallow and indicative of obsolete platting. The parcels are underutilized with respect to site coverage and density. The average age of the buildings in the subject area is 57 years. Buildings have no unifying architectural style, creating a fragmented appearance. Land uses are incongruentand lack synergy. Landscaping, curb cuts and parking layouts are inadequate or inconvenient in many areas. The Olive Boulevard and I-170 interchange is centrally located along the I-170 corridor, with Interstate 64 and the St. Louis County seat of Clayton to the south, and Lambert St. Louis International Airport and Interstates I-70 and I-270 to the north. The interchange serves as the gateway to the western portions of University City and the eastern portions of Olivette, and has long been identified by both the City of University City and the City of Olivette as a major opportunity for redevelopment. One would assume that withthe recent improvements to the interchange,redevelopment pressurewould increase.The Missouri Department of Transportation invested nearly $25 million in road infrastructure improvements, including a new interchange, street widening along Olive Boulevard, coordinated traffic management along the corridor, and streetscape improvements. Even with said improvements, and considering the current economic conditions facing the nation and region, redevelopment interest in the area has barelyaccelerated. Our findings indicate that the surrounding lands, including the existing land use types and businesses, which have long existedin both communities, are stagnant. Privately-led efforts to rejuvenate the area have not been successful. Over the past several decades, there have been multiple redevelopment attempts which have failed to materialize due to complications in land assemblage, financing, or obtaining the necessary political support. I-170/Olive Joint Redevelopment Task Force Final ReportPage 6of 17