Alderman urges city outreach, incentives to address long-vacant Forsyth Boulevard properties

A member of the Clayton Board of Aldermen described a plan on April 23 to prompt redevelopment of several long-vacant or underused parcels along Forsyth Boulevard, urging a proactive city role in contacting owners and assembling developer interest.

The alderman said a colorful map placed at each alderman’s seat identifies significant vacant parcels from the East end near Centene through Montgomery Bank’s corner lot and other Gershman-owned properties. She told the board that the assemblage of parcels has suppressed property-tax revenue and made stretches of Forsyth feel like a “dead zone.”

She outlined several steps for the board to consider: (1) a small delegation — the mayor, city manager and one or two aldermen — meet owners to ask their plans and timetables and to signal the city’s interest; (2) solicit developers and convene potential partners if owners express willingness to engage; (3) use the city’s business development incentive plan as a conversation starter and explore whether targeted incentives would spur action; (4) pursue an economic-impact study to quantify opportunity costs of non-development, possibly with regional partners such as the county economic development partnership or Greater STL; and (5) as a last resort, investigate redevelopment tools such as Chapter 99 if a property meets statutory blight criteria.

The alderman said she had already contacted developers and county partners and had received preliminary information from Greater STL listing properties and ownership data at no cost. She suggested the city could also verify county assessments to ensure properties are correctly valued for tax purposes.

City staff did not commit to a particular program at the meeting; discussion closed with several aldermen endorsing a citywide approach to incentives and outreach rather than immediate use of statutory redevelopment tools. No formal motion or vote occurred on the Forsyth proposal.