TGNCDC Selects David Bailey to Redevelop Long Vacant Gas Sation Site at 4175 Shaw

Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (TGNCDC) Board has selected David Bailey to develop and operate a small scale Bailey's Range burger and shake restaurant in the long vacant and blighted gas station property at 4175 Shaw in the Shaw neighborhood.  Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC purchased the contaminated gas station in August 2013 at the St. Louis City tax sale and worked closely with the Missouri Dept of Natural Resources to test the site and remove the tanks.  As a not for profit, TGNCDC secured the phase one and phase two environmental reports at no cost.  Additional remediation was determined to be necessary.   TGNCDC applied for and was awarded a $160,000 grant from EEIRA to complete the clean up.  The final soil sample was tested a few weeks ago and came back clean.  A no further action letter is expected in the next few months which will open the possibility for redevelopment.

During the final phase of clean up and in anticipation of the no further action letter, TGNCDC announced an Request for Proposal for developers and operators to take on the 10,000 sq. ft site and 1600 sq. ft building built in 1924.  The gas station was reported to be a Gulf branded station through the 1960s.  David Bailey's selected proposal is a casual restaurant, building off his success at his downtown  Bailey's Range location, with reasonable prices and a focus on servicing the neighborhood.  There will be a walk up window for take out and he hopes to attract families with a kids menu.  The building and grounds will be completely renovated and improved.  The estimated costs of the project is about $400,000 and the rear of the property will be enhanced with walking gardens and seating for all seasons (phase 2).  Bailey will need to secure a variance for his project.  In addition, he will need to secure a liquor license.  Sean Spencer, Executive Director, stated, "Through the process of talking with neighbors, evaluating our survey results and our on site neighborhood open house event, we determined that the neighborhood was interested in preserving and re-purposing the building into a commercial use.  David Bailey's successful track record and experience with high quality historic tax credit projects, experience operating highly successful restaurants, passion for improving neighborhoods with his businesses, financial ability to perform and his commitment to working with neighbors through the approval process made him an obvious choice."

The continued improvement of 4175 Shaw is a great example how place based Community Development Corporations who help neighborhoods with a block by block approach can identify problems, determine the appropriate solutions, secure grants to help, and patiently work through the process to a successful conclusion.  There is still plenty of work to complete and we look forward to the redevelopment of this long distressed but highly visible corner of the Shaw Neighborhood.

http://towergrovecdc.org/tgncdc-announces-community-open-house-and-release-of-request-for-proposal-for-long-vacant-4175-shaw-site/

http://towergrovecdc.org/tgncdc-progressing-with-remediation-at-4175-shaw/

http://towergrovecdc.org/tgncdc-sets-deadline-of-february-19-for-proposals-to-redevelop-4175-shaw/