Community development corporations and community policing have been two very effective strategies in other cities, but are mostly absent in St. Louis. The State of Missouri has recently passed major brownfields redevelopment legislation. The Peirce Report also noted the recently launched community-wide planning effort for the distressed downtown area holds significant promise for reengagement of the private sector. Universities in St. Louis comprise the biggest untapped resource in the city. Discussion of these key questions gave rise to the following observations.
Profit is the starting point.
Companies now in St. Louis should not be encouraged to do what is not profitable to them. At the same time, leadership within the business and civic community is needed to help companies see the possibilities and to work in concert in ways that benefit St. Louis and its distressed areas. Downtown was not considered. These mid-level decision makers were apparently receiving no guidance from CEOs to consider downtown as a location, in large part because the chief executives saw no apparent connection between their companies' growth and the stability of downtown. The civic infrastructure in St. Louis may need an overhaul.