Committee advances 71-unit affordable housing project in Fox Park area with due-pass recommendation

A St. Louis City committee on Tuesday advanced Board Bill 58, a proposal to develop 71 affordable apartments across Fox Park, Benton Park West and Tower Grove East, out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. The committee approved a procedural “in bank” placement and later moved the bill out with a due-pass recommendation by roll call.

Vice Chair Sonnier introduced the project as a scattered-site development with a unit mix of three 1-bedroom, 52 2-bedroom and 16 3-bedroom apartments. Committee materials list a total development cost of about $14.2 million and state that all proposed rents are below 50% of area median income (AMI). The project is proposed to be operated by Foxgrove Management and received a community benefit score of 65 (the Tier 3 threshold is 50 points), according to the presenter.

Zach Wilson of the St. Louis Development Corporation told the committee SLDC supports the project and described a proposed tax-abatement structure. He said SLDC “supports 15 years” of abatement, described in committee as “10 years at 90% followed by 5 years at 50%.” Wilson said the project scored well on affordable housing, transit access, geography and public infrastructure improvements.

Committee members asked about notification of St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS). Wilson said the project packet was emailed to SLPS’s real estate committee on May 28 and that SLPS had reached out to the developer to schedule meetings but was unable to complete a meeting; he added that the ordinance requires notification to SLPS but does not require additional steps beyond notification.

Aldermen expressed general support for the project’s contribution to affordability in neighborhoods that have seen rising rents and sale prices. Alderman Browning asked to be added as a cosponsor and several members indicated support. The committee took two formal steps on the item: an initial motion to place the board bill “in bank,” moved by Alderman Aldridge and seconded by Alderman Browning (approved), and a subsequent motion to pass the bill out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, moved by Alderman Cohn and seconded by Alderman Browning. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote; members recorded as saying “aye” during the roll call included Alderman Cone, Alderman Schweitzer, Alderman Keys, Vice Chair Sonnier, Alderman Browning, Alderman Aldrick and Chair Charmaine Clark Hubbard. The bill was advanced by the committee.

No members of the public signed up to speak on the item during the committee meeting.

What’s next: The bill will proceed according to the Board of Aldermen’s procedure for consideration by the full body; committee materials include the developer scorecard and SLDC’s packet. The committee record notes SLDC’s role in administering the scoring and its recommendation on tax-abatement structure.