Downtown STL, Inc. in partnership with the St. Louis Development Corporation and the St. Louis Fashion Fund retained FCA to complete a master plan to revitalize Washington Avenue’s historic Garment District. The plan provides a vision for the transformation of the neighborhood through creative placemaking, in combination with smart policy initiatives that energize the fashion industry alongside a broader ecosystem of creative markets. A demonstration project using tactical urbanism is being planned to fill this once vibrant part of the city with vital new investment, and signal the City’s commitment to downtown life. Recommendations are intended to support the 92-acre neighborhood core’s assets of 3,000 residents and a workforce of 29,000 with attention towards elevating safety, comfort, and amenities through improved organizational infrastructure, programming, and improvements to public space. Ultimately, the plan is a road map that prioritizes capital improvements, facilitates public-private partnerships, and strengthens the identity of the neighborhood.
