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Forest Park council adopts plaza rehabilitation framework to guide commercial corridor revitalization
Summary
The Forest Park City Council voted to adopt a staff-prepared plaza rehabilitation framework playbook that lays out nonregulatory design guidance, implementation tools and outreach strategies to encourage reinvestment in aging shopping centers and commercial corridors, with staff planning outreach to property owners and pilot projects in early 2027.
Forest Park — The City Council adopted a resolution on July 20 formally endorsing a plaza rehabilitation framework playbook intended as the city’s policy guide for revitalizing shopping centers and commercial corridors.
Planning and community development staff described the playbook as “not intended to create additional regulations” but rather “to establish a consistent framework that guides city departments, property owners, developers, and future commercial reinvestment efforts,” and said it focuses on three primary corridors: Jonesboro Road, Downtown Main Street and Forest Parkway. The presentation said the framework pairs illustrative design concepts — building facades, landscaping islands and pedestrian crossings — with implementation strategies, outreach plans and pilot projects to spur private reinvestment.
Council members asked how the city would help property owners with costly upgrades. One councilmember asked, “What part will the city play financially to do the enhancements?” Staff responded that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) had provided input and that the city’s role will be to guide redevelopment and convene property owners, offer information and explore incentives rather than simply giving grants. “Initially, the city wouldn't be just giving funds away because there has to be some provisions set in place,” staff said, and added that pilot projects and coordination with the city’s public-information office are planned to bring owners to the table.
Staff said they had already discussed the playbook with the URA on June 11 and anticipated adoption by council on July 20, 2026, with initial implementation actions starting in early 2027. The playbook likewise references existing parking-lot and property-maintenance standards in the city code and proposes conditional business-license approvals and facade-improvement pathways as tools to bring properties into compliance.
Supporters on council praised the playbook as a needed, consistent standard. Councilmember James moved approval and the motion was seconded by Councilman Gutierrez; the council approved the resolution by voice vote.
The resolution does not itself appropriate funding. Staff told the council that specific financial incentives, if any, would be developed in subsequent actions and that some work could be supported by URA funds or existing grant programs if eligible. Staff also said they will return with communications and outreach materials and recommended timeframes for pilot projects.
Next steps: staff will coordinate public outreach with the PIO and property-owner roundtables and begin implementation tasks in early 2027, subject to additional funding or program approvals.
