What is a cid?

A Community Improvement District (CID) is a special district that aims to enhance and develop a specific area within a city. It is typically formed by property owners and businesses to fund improvements and services that benefit the local community. CIDs can finance various projects such as:

• Public infrastructure improvements (e.g., streets, sidewalks, parks)

• Enhanced security measures

• Beautification efforts

• Special events and marketing initiatives

• Economic development studies

CIDs are funded through special assessments, property taxes, or sales taxes within the district. They provide a way for communities to invest in their own development and create a more vibrant, attractive, and economically thriving area.

The Washington Avenue Corridor CID is being established to support and enhance our neighborhood. More information about our specific goals, projects, and upcoming meetings will be posted here soon.

wash ave CID map

5/13/25 Meeting

Please take notice that the Washington Avenue Corridor Community Improvement District will be holding a Board of Directors Meeting on May 13 th at 11:30 am virtually via Zoom.

AGENDA

I. Call to order

II. Approval of meeting minutes from 04/08/25 Board of Directors meeting (5

minutes)

III. Annual meeting requirements (15 minutes)

a. Election of Board Members (no open seats, no vacancies)

b. Election of Officers

c. Approval of Work Plan (attached below)

d. Approval of annual budget for Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026

IV. Getting ready for summer update (15 minutes)

a. Meeting with Captain Stamper

b. More aggressive policing in 4th District (i.e. dirt bikes / 4 wheelers)

c. Closing Washington on weekend nights between Tucker and 14 th

d. Nightclubs update (Whisky on Washington, 1128 Washington, Uturn)

e. Food trucks on Washington operating past 11pm

f. Venues blaring music outside (i.e. House of Soul, Boom Boom Room, Flamingo

Bowl)

V. Uplighting – Reed Burkett Lighting Design proposal (10 minutes)

VI. Establishment of Marketing / Branding Committee (10 minutes)

VII. New projects

a. Traffic light synchronization on Washington (10 minutes)

b. Streetscape refresh project (10 minutes)

VIII. Rescheduling June Board of Directors meeting (5 minutes)

IX. Adjourn

Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 Work Plan

For the Washington Avenue Corridor CID (“District”)

The programs, services, and capital improvements to be provided by the District will be

focused on three categories: safety and security, physical infrastructure, and economic

expansion / development.

Safety and Security

Efforts will focus on the primary drivers of crime downtown: nuisance properties, street

homelessness, drug dealing, cruising, problem liquor licenses, late night violence, parties at

short term rentals and youth violence. Specific approaches may include but will not be limited to:

Addressing the causes of violent crimes through approaches such as:

- Working to close or prevent from opening problem liquor licenses

- Working to terminate the occupancy of nuisance properties and prevent new nuisance

properties from opening

- Installing traffic calming strategies to deter cruising and street racing (including the

Washington traffic calming plan)

- Working to close or prevent from opening homeless encampments

Forming alliances with adjacent and/or overlapping civic organizations to collaboratively

address security problems including by improving the appearance and function of public

infrastructure.

Facilitating private sector partnerships with government to address security issues, including

initiatives such as encouraging property owners to install security cameras in coordination

with a centrally managed plan, asking security guards to patrol the perimeter of properties in

a coordinated and more effective way, and facilitating greater communication among the

many security resources in Downtown properties.

Working with City government toward more effective performance of its divisions that have a

role in addressing Downtown safety and security, including Excise, Streets, Human

Services, and Parks.

Utilizing the knowledge and experience of peer cities and other resources, such as the

UMSL Criminology Department, the ASU Center for Problem Oriented Policing, National

Police Foundation and others to inform strategy.

Infrastructure

Continued deterioration of streets, sidewalks, lighting, signage and other District infrastructure is not consistent with a vision of a vibrant, growing neighborhood. The Washington Avenue corridor needs a transformative approach to investing in significant upgrades to essential infrastructure. Additional investment is needed and current public revenue sources and processes are simply not sufficient to meet the needs of a modern downtown district. Strategies to maintain existing improved infrastructure and transform outdated infrastructure will include:

Collaborating with Greater St. Louis Inc. and other stakeholders to develop and implement a

comprehensive plan, or series of plans, aimed at calming traffic and enhancing the

aesthetics of the Washington Avenue corridor, with a focus on improvements from curb to

curb.

Advocating for a significant portion of the Rams settlement funds to be allocated to the

District to be used to implement the comprehensive plan developed.

Using available revenues to leverage federal, state, and private funding by providing local

matching grant funding for projects of scale.

Leading an effort to transform the corridor’s streets, including better maintenance and

synchronization of the District’s traffic signals, considering returning key streets to two-way

flow, installing traffic-calming medians on signature streets, and replacing traffic lights with

stop signs where appropriate.

Working with the City Treasurer to greatly expand the metered parking count within the

District in support of retail and restaurants.

Economic Expansion

Continued economic growth and development of the Washington Avenue corridor is essential to the interests of District property owners. Increasing property values and rents are signs of economic growth and well-being, yet those indicators have not been consistently positive in recent years. The District’s image had been affected by security incidents, disorderly and unattractive public spaces, deteriorating infrastructure, and other negative conditions, both real and perceived. Combined with increasing competition from other increasingly attractive urban neighborhoods, the Washington Avenue corridor has lost much of the luster that created the transformative growth over the last two decades. While financial incentives play a limited role in development, research and experience suggests that the keys to long-term sustainable economic growth of cities are relentless attention to quality-of-life conditions like security and cleanliness, modern and well-maintained infrastructure, and quality of public services and spaces. The District will focus on visible and effective improvements in these areas as a foundation for continuous economic growth. Accordingly, activities related to economic growth of downtown will include:

Enhancing the security environment and improving the perception of safety within the

District to make it a more appealing location for businesses, residents, and visitors, with a

particular focus on attracting young people.

Increasing support for the expansion of the innovation ecosystem in the District.

Developing a plan for the improvement of public spaces in the District, drawing as

appropriate from the Design Downtown plan, and using this as a guide for the rejuvenation

of the District’s public infrastructure.

Working to fill the District’s many vacant retail spaces with restaurants (with active sidewalk

cafes) and complementary retail uses in order to activate the streetscape and pull regional

visitors back to the Washington Avenue corridor.

Rebranding the Washington Avenue corridor as a mixed-use district with a focus on

innovation and technology rather than an “entertainment district”.

Developing and implementing a marketing strategy for the District that overcomes the

pervasive narrative of a lack of safety, focusing on the unique assets of the District, with

particular emphasis on the innovation and technology industry jobs and spaces within the

District.

Engaging in other initiatives to improve the livability of the district including dramatically

expanding metered parking, supporting up-lighting of properties, facilitating the

synchronization of traffic lights, and encouraging art galleries to occupy vacant storefronts.

4/8/25 Meeting

Please take notice that the Downtown North Stl Community Improvement District will be holding a Board of Directors Meeting on April 8th at 11:30 am virtually via Zoom.

AGENDA

I. Call to order

II. Approval of meeting minutes from 03/11/25 Board of Directors meeting (5

minutes)

III. Election of Julie Maurer to Board of Directors (5 minutes)

IV. Discussion of and vote on change to “doing business as” name to the

Washington Avenue Corridor Community Improvement District (5 minutes)

V. Discussion of draft 2015 budget (10 minutes)

VI. Summary of proposed Downtown Entertainment District (5 minutes)

VII. Washington Avenue traffic calming / median landscaping (5 minutes)

VIII. 1 st quarter 2025 trends in violent crime Downtown (5 minutes))

IX. Discussion of potential new projects

a. Phase 1 of uplighting plan (i.e. Bee Hat, Marriot Courtyard, Laurel etc…) (5-

10 minutes)

b. Metered parking expansion (5 minutes)

c. Schnucks (supporting DNA initiative) (5 minutes)

X. Discussion of potential advocacy collaboration with other Downtown civic

organizations and stakeholders (5-10 minutes)

XI. Adjourn

3/11/25 Meeting

Please take notice that the Downtown North Stl Community Improvement District will be holding a Board of Directors Meeting on March 11th at 11:30 am virtually via Zoom.

AGENDA

I. Call to order

II. Approval of meeting minutes from 02/11/25 Board of Directors meeting (5

minutes)

III. Amendment of By-Laws to extend time period for establishment of Initial

Board of Directors to 120 days from the date the ordinance creating the DNS

CID became effective (5 minutes)

IV. Election of Michele Solie to Board of Directors (5 minutes)

V. Discussion of bank account / signers on checks (5 minutes)

VI. Discussion of marketing for Downtown North (5-10 minutes)

VII. Update on potential nightclubs within DNS CID area (1011 and 1128

Washington); request for funding (5-10 minutes)

VIII. Supporting protest against Europe Nightclub (5-10 minutes)

IX. Power point presentation on plan for addressing violence associated with late

night partying / cruising in the Washington / Locust corridor (15-20 minutes)

X. Adjourn

2/11/25 Meeting

Please take notice that the Downtown North Stl Community Improvement District will be holding a Board of Directors Meeting on March 11th at 11:30 am virtually via Zoom.

AGENDA

I. Call to order

II. Approval of meeting minutes from 01/13/25 Board of Directors meeting

III. Setting of regular monthly Board of Directors meeting

IV. Update on Executive Director starting date (2/10/25)

V. Update on funding from City of St. Louis

VI. Update on changes to Board of Directors

VII. Update on bookkeeping / accounting services (Isabel Moreno, Abeles &

Hoffman / Jim Rose, Anders); recommendation to retain Isabel Moreno

VIII. Update on Rams legislation and implications for DNS CID 

IX. Update on potential nightclubs within DNS CID area (1011 and 1128

Washington)

X. Power point presentation on 2024 Downtown / West shootings and stabbings

and implications for DNS CID activities

XI. Adjourn

1/13/25 Meeting

Please take notice that the Board of Directors of the Downtown North STL Community Improvement District will be holding a Board of Directors meeting on Monday, January 13th at 12pm / noon, virtually via Zoom. The main topic to be addressed at the Board of Directors meeting is passing a resolution imposing the special assessment that has been proposed and supported by a majority of property owners within the district.

AGENDA

I. Call to order

II. Approval of meeting minutes from 12/13/24 Board of Directors meeting

III. Discussion of proposed location of corporate office

IV. Discussion of need for professional services, including an outside attorney

and an accountant

V. Update on changes to Board of Directors

VI. Discussion of support for Board Bill 131

VII. Adjourn

Executive Committee discussion

12/13/24 Meeting

Please take notice that the Board of Directors of the Downtown North STL Community Improvement District will be holding a Board of Directors meeting on Friday, December 13th at 12pm / noon, virtually via Zoom. The main topic to be addressed at the Board of Directors meeting is passing a resolution imposing the special assessment that has been proposed and supported by a majority of property owners within the district.

AGENDA

I. Call to order

II. Approval of meeting minutes from 11/25/24 Board meeting

III. Discussion of requirements under MO CID Act for imposition of special assessment and compliance with those requirements

IV. Discussion / approval of resolution imposing special assessment within boundaries of the DNS CID.