River Market Community Improvement District Advances Renewal Efforts Based on 20 Years of Accomplishments

By Sean O’Byrne, Vice President, Downtown Council; Executive Director, Community Improvement Districts

Since the formation of the River Market Community Improvement District (RMCID) in 2005, more than $680,000,000 has been reinvested in our district. The River Market District is on solid ground with strong office and retail occupancy as well as a growing residential base. Today, more than 3,000 residents call River Market home, with an additional 246 apartments under construction and 838 units planned. In 2024, the River Market recovered 104% of all pedestrian traffic from 2019, fully rebounding and exceeding totals prior to the pandemic.

Top River Market Community Improvement District Accomplishments:

1. Creation of Nighttime Security: Through the hard work and dedication of the RMCID Safety and Security Committee, our District now has three dedicated security officers exclusively patrolling within our boundaries.
2. The completion of $825,000 in infrastructure improvements within the neighborhood through River Market TIF, including:
   1. The River Market Streetscape, produced by Confluence and funded by the River Market TIF, provided direction for all improvements.
   2. Infrastructure improvements included more than 1,400 linear feet of new curbs; nearly 6,500 square feet of paver sidewalks repaired or replaced; and more than 7,200 square feet of new concrete sidewalks and approximately 2,200 square feet of driveway approaches.
   3. Extensive electrical services were performed to upgrade the entire pedestrian light electrical system installed forty years ago. The work included replacing damaged or compromised electrical conduits, installation of tamper-proof GFCIs for decorative lighting, controller upgrades, replacing or repairing damaged poles and lamp globes, and retrofitting approximately 125 HID lights to LED to provide a brighter and safer environment with cost savings to our ratepayers.
3. Received more than $340,000 in Public Improvements Advisory Commission (PIAC) funds. Top Projects included:
   1. Completing the intersection improvements at 5th and Wyandotte.
   2. Safety and aesthetic improvements with improved lighting and murals to the 5th Street underpass between the River Market and Columbus Park.
   3. Pedestrian safety-oriented improvements for the intersection at Missouri and Grand Blvd.
4. Created the River Market Off-Leash Dog Park at 5th and Locust Streets. The RMCID negotiated with the Missouri Department of Transportation to utilize over an acre and a half of land in the district to provide open space for neighborhood pets to exercise and socialize. The fundraising campaign collected over $21,000 from donations from River Market businesses, associations, residents, and grants for the installation of fencing, signage, and amenities at the site.
5. Partnering with The Beehive, a health and housing initiative aimed at eradicating homelessness in the River Market by providing meals, healthcare, and housing referrals.
6. Partnering with the Missouri Department of Transportation to provide service options for the unhoused and remove debris from the State Right of Way bordering the River Market District.
7. Created a River Market Dumpster Cooperative for the alleyway between Walnut and Grand Blvd and 3rd St. to Missouri by partnering with adjacent businesses. The cooperative program reduced the number of dumpsters lining the alleyway,  increased service, and significantly reduced the monthly cost for each business.
8. Applied for $296,000 in PIAC funding for 30 additional traffic Tilt, Pan, Zoom (TPZ) cameras to be located at strategic locations in the neighborhood.  The RMCID will be able to access the TPZ cameras for improved security and to allow for evidentiary quality documentation for possible prosecution of offenders.
9. Built and installed approximately 125 wrought iron decorative tree well enclosures throughout the neighborhood.
10. Partnered with the State of Missouri Department of Corrections in the reduction of prisoner recidivism by reorganizing the State’s Release Center into a minimum Security Transition Center. This leads to a significant level of loitering and nuisance crimes in our District.

Renewing the River Market Community Improvement District will allow our team to continue to improve the neighborhood for 10 additional years. We look forward to working with our ratepayers to successfully renew the district and continue the work of improving the neighborhood for years to come.