NEAR NORTH RIVERFRONT (64)
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LOCATION

Located just north of Downtown St. Louis, the Near North Riverfront neighborhood is bounded by Carr to the South, Interstate 70 to the West, Adelaide to the North, and the Mississippi River to the East.

St. Louis' oldest industrial riverfront, the Near North Riverfront has long been the site of heavy industry in St. Louis. From the 1840s on, this riverfront neighborhood has been primarily industrial. Two major components contributed to the booming industry of the area: the Merchants' Bridge and the Municipal Docks.

While the Eads Bridge mostly served Mill Creek Valley, the Merchants Bridge directly served this industrial area along the Mississippi River. Industries benefited from the multi-modal accessibility of the area. Another mode would be added through the construction of I-70, yet by the mid-twentieth century many of the plants and warehouses would be outdated for manufacturing and trade.

The area has a history of public investment in capital improvements for industry. In 1918, the Municipal Docks at the foot of North Market were built for over $500,000. By 1955, the city would issue bonds to double the docks' size. Also in the 1950s, the relocation of the Commission Row market followed its displacement from I-70.

The last four decades would see public improvements overlooking the area, concentrating urban renewal efforts for new industrial development in the respective near south side and central corridor initiatives in Kosciusko and Mill Creek Valley. However, today, this older, near north side industrial area is receiving strong attention for redevelopment and capital improvements in comprehensive real estate and land studies, as well as the new I-70 bridge.

After the construction of Interstate 70, this seven-mile stretch of riverfront was cut off from its residential neighbors of Old North St. Louis, Hyde Park, and College Hill. Though immediately north of Downtown, this older industrial area was overlooked in redevelopment plans, losing to successful incentives and plans for Kosciusko and Mill Creek Valley.

Despite its old, outmoded facilities for industrial activity, many businesses have remained in the area. Even a few have reused space when their production did not require more sophisticated facilities. Additionally, their close proximity to the highway and river remain key elements in maintaining efficient production.

About half of this area's structures are underutilized and/or abandoned, thereby possessing strong potential for redevelopment. However, these vacant sites are scattered and contaminated, demanding public support for their redevelopment.

In a largely industrial area such as this, the dominant institution is the area's business association. The North Broadway Business Association is a key player, comprising members from all of the area's major employers. Not surprisingly, Mallinkrodt, the area's largest, heads the business association. Mallinkrodt has continually been influential in the area, educating youth on business and economics, participating in any neighborhood planning, and helping attract other businesses.

Though previously overlooked for redevelopment, the seeds for future redevelopment are currently being sown. A Sedway Group report has been completed, identifying areas for new development, redirecting some existing uses, and marking expansion for large and/or stable area businesses.

Much of the area identified for new construction is along Interstate 70. This strategy follows industrial development trends across the nation. Industry is shifting to light manufacturing and distribution. These areas have prime highway frontage and access, which are crucial to attracting the single-level, light industrial, highway-trucking type of businesses that are growing.

All of the area, however, is contaminated by past heavy industrial practices. Fortunately, an EPA-funded pilot program has begun to identify brownfield sites for redevelopment. Grants are providing the necessary funding for site assessment and clean up that would not be viable with purely private financing. A similar program has been successful in the MLK Business Park in northwest Downtown.

Other public incentives include a land development fund to entice bank capital and the potential for municipal bond financing for tract acquisition. However, the city cannot speculatively acquire and remediate sites; therefore it must seek out only committed developers.

Finally, there is hope for a new catalyst to the development of Near North Riverfront — the construction of a new I-70 bridge within the area just north of Downtown. Though originally envisioned to bypass the neighborhood, a dialogue between St. Louis officials and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the project's main supporter, have ensured that the new bridge will serve the adjacent businesses and residences in addition to Illinois commuters.