Committee confirms five appointees to Baden Market Center Special Business District

St. Louis Board of Aldermen members on the Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee confirmed five mayoral appointees to the Baden Market Center Special Business District after a committee review and brief presentations by the nominees.

The confirmations matter because the special business district will be governed by the appointed board and is intended to coordinate business investment, events and neighborhood services in the Baden neighborhood of north St. Louis.

Committee chair Clark Hubbard opened the item and asked each nominee to introduce themselves. Tamara Keith, owner of an ice cream manufacturing facility in Baden, told the committee she has invested about $5,000,000 in a manufacturing facility there and that "75% of our new back of the house workforce live within 3 miles." Keith said she wanted to help ensure neighborhood businesses benefit from the district.

Dominique Avant said she was born and raised in St. Louis, described herself as director of youth programs for Northside Youth and Sacred Service Center and the founder and CEO of Shoe Fly, a 501(c)(3) that distributes shoes and essentials. She said she acquired property in Baden and aims to provide storage and a hub for in-kind donations.

Dr. Kimberly Jones, a founder of Living With Purpose, described that nonprofit's work providing services for people with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. Jones said Living With Purpose grew its back-to-school event from about 50 participants at its start to "400 plus individuals, 24 different ZIP codes" in 2024 and that the organization holds a Department of Mental Health contract to deliver services.

Tiana Broadway said she is opening a business in the Baden district in 2025 and described her venture, A and T Broadway (an event space and cultural center). Theresa Hendricks Myers said she operates Events on Broadway, has run a home health care operation for eight years and works at Saint Louis University, and that she seeks to help the district "flourish." Several aldermen thanked the nominees for investing and serving in the community.

Melanie Fair, listed as a nominee, was not present. Committee members agreed to remove Fair from the vote and proceed with the other nominations so the district could begin organizing. Alderman Boyd, who introduced the item, told colleagues she supported moving forward rather than waiting until after upcoming elections so as not to lose nominees' interest.

After the introductions and brief discussion, the committee proceeded with the nominations. With no objection voiced, the committee confirmed Tamara Keith, Dominique Avant, Dr. Kimberly Jones, Tiana Broadway and Theresa Hendricks Myers to the Baden Market Center Special Business District and congratulated them.

The committee also approved the meeting minutes from Thursday, Feb. 4, 2025, at the start of the session. No ordinances or resolutions were reviewed at this meeting and no substantive policy votes beyond the confirmations were taken.

The committee noted that newly confirmed board members will have orientation and training to perform governance duties for the special business district before the district begins substantive operations. The committee pulled Melanie Fair's nomination to reschedule her introduction and confirmation at a later date.

The meeting closed with a brief announcement and a motion to excuse one alderwoman for a necessary absence.