University City council accepts Third Ward revitalization plan after residents raise questions about details and TIF funds

University City — On Jan. 13 the University City City Council voted to accept the Third Ward plan prepared by the Housing and Third Ward Revitalization Task Force and consultant Yarden Company. Council member Clay moved to accept the report; Council member Smotherson seconded the motion. The council adopted the acceptance by voice vote.

City Manager Rose told the council that acceptance differs from formal approval: “Acceptance works a little different ... all programs that are created based upon the document, the plan that's created, will come back to the mayor and council for consideration.” He said programs developed from the plan would be brought forward for study sessions and then placed on a regular agenda for final approval.

The plan drew public comment from longtime residents and task force participants who said the draft lacks needed implementation detail. Rosalyn Williams, who described decades of experience in municipal planning and work on Meacham Park-style redevelopment, said the plan shifts city resources toward routine infrastructure rather than the housing-focused investments she expected from the TIF. “The implementation of this plan completely misses the mark of fulfilling the TIF's promise to close the housing value gap between the city wards,” Williams said.

Patricia McQueen, a task force participant and resident, told the council the draft omits key stakeholder engagement steps and lacks specific sequencing and staffing recommendations. “Why is a community development corporation with expertise in redevelopment ... not in place to lead the implementations of strategies, coordinate stakeholders, and ensure long term accountability,” McQueen asked.

City Attorney Mulligan described the document as a planning guide rather than an implementing ordinance: “Legally, this is a guide for planning purposes. Think of the comprehensive plan, which is a guide.” Council members echoed that understanding in debate and thanked the task force for its multi-year work. Council member Clay described the plan as a “blueprint” and said programs would likely require future budget appropriations and ordinance actions.

The draft plan ties to a previously authorized tax increment financing (TIF) package. Speakers at the meeting noted the TIF target was $10,000,000; Williams said $3,000,000 had been advanced by the developer and asked where the remaining $7,000,000 in the TIF budget is allocated. The transcript records the $7,000,000 as “not specified” in the plan discussion.

Council members and staff said programs deriving from the plan will return to the council for program-level review, work sessions and, if appropriate, formal approval on a regular agenda. The council accepted the plan with a motion, second and voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.

The acceptance moves the Third Ward plan from task-force recommendation to the next step of program development and council review. Staff said programs will be brought back for council direction and any required appropriations or zoning changes would follow ordinary council procedures.