Discussion Addressed Importance of Fostering Equitable and Sustainable Transit-Oriented Development
“One of the greatest assets St. Louis has is its MetroLink infrastructure,” stated CMT panelist Jeff Tegethoff, operating partner at CRG, as a part of CMT’s Panel on Lessons Learned from Developing Near Transit on Dec. 4. Citizens for Modern Transit, in partnership with ULI St. Louis and St. Louis REALTORS®, hosted a virtual “Talking Transit” event highlighting the development currently underway near the Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Swansea Transit Centers and well as a discussion on how equitable and sustainable investments like these help create more viable communities.
Panelists included Jeff Tegethoff, Operating Partner of CRG; Joel Fuoss, Principal of Trivers; Aaron Burnett, President of Bywater; John Hanley Senior Managing Director of the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust; and Erica Henderson, Vice President, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and Executive Director, St. Louis Promise Zone.
Panelists discussed the opportunities around transit and trends in development occurring on the national front that could impact the St. Louis market. When discussing key components of success to these development, Henderson stressed, “Prioritize community first, and amplify the power and the voice of the residents. Build the project with the community.” Panelists highlighted that these developments must take into account what a resident/visitor would need as a transit commuter, bike commuter or multi-modal transportation user. According to Fuoss, these developments are not being built just for today’s market but for the market for the next 30 years.
The success of these projects can be dependent on the communities in which they reside. “What we really see is an evolving success story. The Swansea site is a fantastic look at how the Village of Swansea has taken so much of an effort, and so much time, to come up with a comprehensive development plan around that MetroLink Station,” said Burnett.
CMT Panel Discussion Webinar Available Here
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