OLIVETTE, Mo. — At its July 10 meeting, planning staff summarized ongoing and prospective development activity across the city, including multifamily construction, retail tenant moves and several commercial properties under marketing.

Carlos Trejo, director of planning and community development, told the board construction is underway on a 205-unit apartment building called Irvington Place, and the city also expects 35 townhouses to begin framing soon. He said Irvington Place "will be ready for occupancies probably, that late winter, early 2026." Trejo identified a commercial parcel at the I-170 auto-crossing (Lot 3) where two eating establishments are planned; staff named Paris Baguette and The Brass Tap as tenants and said three interior tenant spaces remain, with Tropical Smoothie and Verizon noted as occupants in the development plans.

Trejo also reported that a large office/industrial space at 9315 Olive Boulevard, formerly occupied by Enterprise Fleet Management, is being leased by a subsidiary of Emerson and will bring about 200–250 employees to Olivette. He said the former U.S. Bank call-center property on Olive remains vacant and is receiving proposals.

Other updates included a longtime local business, ABC Trading, listing its property as the owner prepares to retire; Party City’s closed store on Olive Boulevard has a prospective tenant in negotiation; and Enchanted Brides has closed, and the city is talking with potential redevelopers. Trejo noted the narrow, irregular footprints of some of these retail sites make redevelopment complex.

Staff also addressed resident complaints about construction traffic and temporary sidewalk closures near the new apartment and townhouse projects. Trejo said public-works and police/fire reviews found no condition that blocked emergency access, though crews have been asked to improve pedestrian detour signage and construction staging to reduce local impacts.

Trejo closed by summarizing recent council turnover and the need to manage revenue pressures: council membership changed after the April elections, and the city adopted a new fiscal-year budget amid lower sales-tax revenue, Trejo said. He reminded the board that while property values rose, state rules limit property tax growth (referencing the Hancock rule) and that sales-tax receipts remain an important part of the city’s revenue mix.

Staff said they will coordinate scheduling for upcoming Planning and Community Design Commission reviews related to projects approved by the Board of Adjustment.