COmmunity involvement

Every community is different and there is no one way to engage the public around a project. The first step is to get out into the community and learn what people think, believe and value. The West Florissant Avenue Great Street Project’s community engagement approach was first to understand better the community’s vision for the corridor and their concerns for redevelopment and change.

Download Engagement Report

Designed for the community, with the community

The Project team developed draft street and branding designs based on extensive data, community goals and implementability. At all Project stages, the team gathered feedback through advisory committee members, stakeholder meetings, community events and public open houses. In addition, status updates, documents and comment options were available on a public website and through team members who were made available for phone calls and meetings. The Project team spent two years engaging with at least 4,000 residents and community members on the scope, vision and potential impact of the West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project. Public engagement was not limited to specific team members – all Project team members spent time presenting to groups, meeting with stakeholders and business owners, dropping off flyers, attending community events and discussing the Project at open houses. The end result was draft street designs and public improvement options that could serve the community’s existing needs while promoting a safer and more connected future for the corridor. Finally, the Project team relied on community feedback to refine further and revise draft design recommendations.

Community Open House July 2023

On July 12 2023, St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works held a Community Open House at the Dellwood Recreation Center. The project team assisted attendees with questions regarding timeline, proposed enhancements, and right of way and land acquisition. People were given the opportunity to leave additional feedback in writing via a comment form or directly on the project map.

Open House Boards and Strip Map

Public Hearing and Community Open House August 2022

On August 11 2022, St. Louis County Department of Transportation held a Public Hearing at the Dellwood Recreation Center. The project team assisted attendees with questions regarding timeline, proposed enhancements, and right of way and land acquisition. People were given the opportunity to leave additional feedback in writing or verbally with a court reporter about what they want to see in their community.

Public Hearing Presentation

Open Houses

March 2017

The project team developed draft street and branding designs based on extensive data, community goals and implementability. At all project stages, the team gathered feedback through advisory committee members, stakeholder meetings, community events and public open houses. In addition, status updates, documents and comment options were available on a public website and through team members who were made available for phone calls and meetings.

Feedback results

Trailnet Pop-Up Street Demonstration July 2017

In order to show the community how updated street design could improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic, the project team partnered with Trailnet and St. Louis County Department of Transportation to host a “pop-up design demonstration” on Saturday, July 15, 2017. The demonstration was held on West Florissant Avenue between Ferguson Avenue and Canfield Drive. The demonstration involved creating a temporary median, designated pedestrian crosswalk and consolidated traffic lanes. The project team helped walk pedestrians across the road to demonstrate the crosswalk and asked them to fill out a survey.

Survey results

Agreed

It is dangerous to cross West Florissant Avenue, but vehicles stop at crosswalks.

Disagreed

Drivers go the speed limit and respondents felt safe crossing the avenue.

Split

The sidewalks and crosswalks feel safe, and drivers will go the speed limit on West Florissant Avenue.

Open House January 2018

After over a year of data collection and community engagement, the project team had developed draft conceptual designs ready for public review and refinement. The project team hosted an open house January 31, 2018 at the New Life Community Church of God in Christ to get feedback on proposed street design improvements and changes, public realm improvements and corridor branding options. Business and property owners, local residents and area stakeholders involved in economic development and quality of life along West Florissant Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods were asked to provide specific and valuable input to further refine the draft designs before submitting to project partners for final review.

Feedback results

Draft Design and Branding Feedback

Traffic design and access. Attendees had specific suggestions for: design refinements, including Kappel Drive; access to the former Red’s BBQ; entrance to New York Grill; and Highmont signalling. This level of detailed feedback was very useful to the project team. Attendees preferred direct access from West Florissant Avenue to popular spots like McDonald’s and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Concept Perspectives. Attendees viewed concept perspective renderings for Segments 3, 4, and 5 and were asked if they approved or disapproved using green or red dots. Segment 3’s perspective was viewed most favorably.

Ongoing concerns about sustainability and safety. Similarly to the first open house, attendees were excited about improving the safety and attractiveness of West Florissant Avenue, but concerned about paying for ongoing maintenance and the project timeline.

Branding. Out of the examples provided, attendees most favored the names “WestFlo” and “Link74.” They were also asked to give their preference among various “Unity Ring” logos.

Overall Project Feedback

Overall positive view of Project. The majority of attendees viewed the project and the design concepts positively. They were most excited about traffic calming, green space, an updated look for West Florissant Avenue, increased pedestrian safety, and attracting more businesses to the corridor.

Concern for property issues and business access. Many of the comments were detailed and specific about access in and out
of businesses, parking, privacy, and property values. This level of detailed feedback was invaluable for developing the final design recommendations.

Most excited for design improvements and community development. Attendees expressed hope that the improvements proposed by the West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project would create positive momentum and a sense of pride among residents and businesses in the corridor.

Most concerned about funding and inconvenient business access. Attendees were concerned about Project financing, ongoing maintenance of any improvements, increasing benches and transit stop enhancements, changed access in and out of businesses, and ongoing community outreach and education.

Stakeholder Meetings

The project team scheduled many stakeholder and group meetings to introduce the Project purpose, vision and scope as well as gather valuable local insight. These meetings provided key information on public safety and EMS routes, utilities, school bus routes and redevelopment efforts. Other meetings were an opportunity for the Project team to talk directly with residents near West Florissant Avenue during their regularly scheduled meetings. These efforts helped the Project team better understand what the community valued and wanted to see on this span of West Florissant Avenue. Below is a list of stakeholder meeting targets during the Design Phase.

Ameren (utilities)
American Missouri Water
Bi-State Development Agency (Metro)
Black Oaks/Summerset Neighborhood Association (Ferguson) Centene Corporation (Ferguson business)
Christian Hospital EMS Services
Community Forward, Inc.
Dellwood City Administrator
Dellwood City Council
Dellwood City Officials
Dellwood Mayor Reggie Jones
Dellwood Recreation Center
Emerson (Ferguson business)
Ferguson City Council
Ferguson City Officials
Ferguson Fire Department
Ferguson-Florissant School District
Ferguson Mayor James Knowles
Ferguson Neighborhood Policing Steering Committee

STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK RESULTS

Ferguson Police Department
Ferguson Senior Citizen Commission
Ferguson Woods Neighborhood Meeting
Ferguson Youth Advisory Board
Forrestwood Neighborhood Association (Ferguson)
Hudson Hills Neighborhood Association
Jeske Park Neighborhood Association
Metro North Fire District (Dellwood)
Nesbit-Newton Neighborhood Association
Southwest Ferguson/North Hills Neighborhood Meeting Southeast Ferguson Neighborhood Association
Old Ferguson East/Old Ferguson West Neighborhood Associations ONE Ferguson
St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger
St. Louis County Police
St. Louis County Council – Hazel Erby and Rochelle Walton-Gray St. Louis County Transportation
Trailnet
West Florissant Avenue Small Business Association

Importance of Business and Community Feedback

Due in part to recent events but also from decades of disinvestment, residents and business owners along West Florissant Avenue were eager for positive economic development but wary of unsustainable or disruptive investment. Advisory committee members stressed the importance of gathering specific feedback on draft designs from the community and business owners who will use and travel along West Florissant Avenue. The corridor had already suffered loss of economic activity post-Ferguson events and wanted to be sure community input was incorporated into designs. Business owners were most concerned about specific lane reduction and street access changes that could affect customers. Community members in general cited the need to improve the
corridor’s visual aesthetics and its unfairly negative reputation
within the St. Louis region.

Overall, the community and stakeholders were excited
about the Project’s vision and goals.

Project Implementation and Maintenance

Major street improvement projects are potentially disruptive due to construction and behavior change. Advisory committee members stressed the importance of early and frequent communication with business owners and residents about any potential construction or redevelopment. In addition, committee members questioned which entities would be responsible for maintaining Project street design improvements (i.e. sidewalks, landscaping, street furniture, transit stops and trash receptacles) and how that could be funded. Business owners echoed this concern about maintenance, construction impacts and new business developments. Other stakeholders mentioned top issues like trash collection, landscape maintenance and branding as important factors for Project implementation.

Safety and Business Access

Advisory committee members, local groups and business owners brought valuable information about specific street design options to the Project team’s attention, especially regarding pedestrian and traffic patterns, public safety concerns and business access. This feedback helped eliminate initial options and refine draft designs to better serve business interests. In addition, advisory committees, community groups and other stakeholders helped provide the valuable technical and local knowledge necessary to make intersections, greenways, pedestrian crossings, bike lanes and other design components safer and more usable by the public.

Advisory Committees

The West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project advisory committees were formed based on feedback from project partners and other committee members to provide a diverse and meaningful cross-section of project stakeholders. The Technical Advisory Committee provided the project team feedback on technical issues including planning and zoning, traffic, land use, transit, community development, and recreation. The Community Advisory Committee provided the project team with information about community goals, concerns, and ideas. Members included Dellwood and Ferguson residents, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, business owners and community activists.

Technical Advisory Committee

City of Dellwood
City of Ferguson
East-West Gateway Council of Governments
Ferguson-Florissant School District
Great Rivers Greenway
Metro
Missouri Department of Transportation
St. Louis County Department of Planning
St. Louis County Economic Development Partnership
St. Louis County Executive Office
St. Louis Promise Zone

Community Advisory Committee

9-1-1 Salon
Best Insurance
Career Compass LLC
City of Dellwood Planning Department
City of Dellwood resident
City of Ferguson City Council, Ward 1
City of Ferguson Planning Department
City of Ferguson resident
Community Forward, Inc.
Dellwood Lounge
Emerson
Ferguson-Florissant School District
Ferguson Youth Initiative

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis
Keefe Group
KP Development, Inc.
Missouri Department of Transportation
North County, Inc.
ONE Ferguson
St. Louis County Department of Health
St. Louis County Department of Transportation
St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
Save-A-Lot
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
West Florissant Avenue Business Association
Zisser Tire