CREVE COEUR, Mo. — A St. Louis firm is proposing a massive redevelopment of an aging shopping plaza in Creve Coeur it says would create a new "town center" at Olive Boulevard and Interstate 270.
Green Street Real Estate Ventures plans a new apartment complex, hotel, retail space and a pedestrian plaza on a 10-acre site, including the existing Creve Coeur Plaza shopping center at 700 N. New Ballas Road, according to a concept plan the company submitted to the city.
Creve Coeur’s Director of Community Development said this has been a City vision for decades.
“The idea is really to create an area that is walkable, that has some more density, that is not a traditional strip mall, that has a lot of amenities, and would bring more people to this area," Jason Jaggi said.
He said this particular project could bring that vision to life.
“Creve Coeur has, since the 1960’s always wanted a 'downtown Coeur.’ We don’t have that today," he said.
The project would consist of nine new buildings, including a 270-unit apartment complex, a 76,300-square-foot hotel, two parking garages and a public “town center” space with a plaza and pocket park, according to the proposal. The plan also identifies 37,750 square feet of retail space.
Some businesses welcomed the idea of turning the plaza into a town center.
“That definitely brings in more business when people have more space they can walk around on,” Fantasy Shop manager Abby Gordon said.
Fantasy Shop is a comic shop in the center of the plaza. Gordon said they encourage community in their own store.
“We do a lot for trying to bring people into the hobby and making space for them to be able to explore new hobbies," she said.
The Creve Coeur Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public meeting Monday night at 6:00 p.m. get feedback on this proposal.