Real estate development is a key determinant of community well-being, impacting the character and capacity of neighborhoods for decades into the future. A city’s development patterns and priorities drive outcomes for businesses and residents alike, and past development choices often act as a barrier to creating livable places in the present-day. St. Louis needs principles, policies, and processes that are purposefully directed toward advancing economic justice. Adopting this strategy will set a course for correcting historical decisions that have exacerbated social inequalities and lay a pathway for equitable and inclusive development in the years to come.

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Community-driven development approaches, incentives rooted in community need, and improved data collection and transparency support this vision. Providing channels for neighborhood groups, citizens, and small businesses to have genuine and impactful participation can improve the decisions shaping development. Agency-level tactics based on current, community-scale data and public input will be more reflective of the needs and opportunities for change and growth. Actively sharing information, updating policies, and creating openings for engagement serve the larger goal of economic justice. SLDC should position real estate development as an economic engine to drive a robust and resilient economy through equitable, transparent, and accountable community engagement practices, benefits agreements, incentive structures, and data collection. These actions are aligned around a strategy of achieving equitable and inclusive development in every neighborhood.