Forest West Properties, better known as Washington University in St. Louis, has issued a long anticipated Request for Information (RFI) for 85 properties it owns within the southern half of the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. The university via FWP has held dozens of most vacant parcels south of Manchester for more than a decade. Options to purchase city-owned parcels could push the number of properties over 100.
In February 2013, the boundary of the neighborhood historic district was extended to include a swath south of Manchester, an area that has to-date failed to attract the investment seen on Manchester and to the north. This is changing as Grove Properties has set it eyes on several properties south, and the neighborhood recently considered competing proposals for additional parcels.
FWP has dipped its toe into developing this area in the past. Those proposals relied heavily on subsidized, or affordable housing. The RFI seeks “dense market rate forsale housing”, while also stating, “proposals will involve a minimum of 20% affordable housing component.” Development pressure north, but also south from UIC’s Botanical Grove development, has seemingly finally pushed this area toward a larger market rate mix.
The university is betting that timing is right for a major infill boom. nextSTL is aware of at least three homebuilders enthusiastic at the prospects of winning a big mixed-use urban infill project. Proposals will be required to conform to the neighborhood’s new Form Base Code, which requires a more urban development pattern. Multiple developers may ultimately be selected.
The RFI boundary includes the site of a recently approved single-family infill project by UIC. That $500K project is set to retain an existing dilapidated brick home, while introducing an expansive contemporary addition:
{this building south of Manchester is set to be rehabed by Grove Properties}
Forest West Properties (Washington University in St. Louis) Request for Information – Forest Park Southeast… by nextSTL.com
