The St. Louis Development Corporation has announced its first Project Connect neighborhood planning event for this Wednesday at Vashon High School, aimed at residents in the areas around the future site of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) West in North St. Louis. According to an article from the St. Louis official website, the meeting is set to begin at 6 pm, initiating a community-driven process to influence city policy and encourage equitable development in preparation for the new $1.7 billion NGA West Campus.
Lance Knuckles, SLDC Director of Strategic Growth & Development, emphasized the importance of community engagement in planning, stating on the St. Louis official website, "Equitable development relies on community-driven processes." He extended an invitation to locals to voice their concerns and share their visions for the future of their neighborhoods. The upcoming planning sessions are open to all interested parties who wish to contribute to the development of Near North St. Louis, including Hyde Park, St. Louis Place, Old North St. Louis, Columbus Square, Carr Square, and JeffVanderLou.
The community engagement initiative is not an isolated phenomenon but is an aspect of a broader developmental vision that was first announced at the 2021 GEOINT Symposium earlier in the year; with the NGA West project being the cornerstone of this transformative agenda, it aims to bridge the divide between the growth potential and the actual growth by focusing on a strategic alignment of city resources, partnerships, and developmental tools.
Project Connect marks a pivotal moment for both neighborhood residents and the transformative NGA West project. The forum provides an opportunity to ensure that as new infrastructure rises, it reflects the needs and aspirations of communities that have long endured neglect. The planning process serves as a key channel to shape policy and guide growth for the benefit of surrounding neighborhoods..
