St. Louis HUDZ Committee Meeting: Appointments & Tax Incentives – Oct 15, 2026

The Housing, Urban Development, and Zoning (HUDZ) Committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen convened on October 15, 2026, to consider mayoral appointments, two affordable housing redevelopment plans, and a policy to pre-authorize incentives for long-vacant land. The committee approved minutes from its October 6, 2026 meeting, confirmed 11 appointees to two boards, voted to advance two redevelopment plans, and held a third bill for further discussion.

Consent Calendar

• The committee unanimously approved the minutes from its meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Reagan Bogan, co-chair of the SLPS Parent Action Council Housing and Incentives Committee (speaking as a parent and not on behalf of the school district), provided testimony on three board bills:
  • Board Bill 47 (Tiffany Neighborhood): Expressed full support, specifically praising the inclusion of large 3-5 bedroom units and the full compliance with the city's development proposal report ordinance.
  • Board Bill 57 (Old North/St. Louis Place): Expressed general support but noted the required Development Proposal Report was not publicly attached to the bill, requesting that SLDC ensure it is posted for future hearings.
  • Board Bill 70 (Forest Park Southeast): Opposed the pre-authorization of a 90% tax abatement, calling it "far too high" for a strong market neighborhood. He recommended the committee vote no or hold the bill until the abatement cap is lowered or a provision is added requiring the future developer to return to the full Board.

Discussion Items

Mayoral Appointments (Baden Market Center Special Business District)

• Chair Clark Hubbard moved these appointments to the top of the agenda. Four appointees testified in person, expressing a strong commitment to restoring resources and improving the business district. A fifth appointee, Teresa Myers, was approved in her absence due to prior vetting. The committee voted 6-0 to confirm all five.

Mayoral Appointments (Nuisance Property Review Board)

• Six appointees with extensive experience in code enforcement, community organizing, legal proceedings, and property management were sworn in and testified. Alderman Aldrich praised the group's collective institutional knowledge. The committee voted 5-0 to confirm the appointments.

Board Bill 47 – Tiffany Neighborhood Redevelopment (Sponsored by Vice Chair Sonyer)

• Vice Chair Sonyer presented a plan to rehabilitate 21 scattered apartment buildings into 60 affordable units (3-5 bedrooms) at or below 60% Area Median Income (AMI). The total project cost is approximately $15.4 million. The developer, Efficiency Consulting & Development (Yafit Alamine), emphasized that no resident will pay more than 30% of income on rent due to HUD HAP funding. The committee adopted a committee substitute with a fiscal note and voted 5-0 to pass the bill with a "do pass" recommendation.

Board Bill 57 – Amber Stone Development (Sponsored by Alderman Aldridge)

• Alderman Aldridge presented a similar scattered-site project in the Old North and St. Louis Place neighborhoods, rehabbing 67 affordable units with 3-5 bedrooms. Developer Yafit Alamine noted the project's low operational capital and the necessity of the tax abatement to maintain the development long-term. Following public comment, SLDC acknowledged the missing Development Proposal Report and committed to attaching it to the bill online going forward. The bill was passed out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation via voice vote.

Board Bill 70 – Forest Park Southeast Vacant Land Incentives (Sponsored by Alderman Browning)

• Alderman Browning gave a detailed presentation on the history of the two vacant parcels, tracing the destruction of the neighborhood to the construction of Highway 6440 and subsequent decades of land speculation and "demolition by neglect." The bill seeks to pre-authorize a tax abatement of up to 90% for 10 years for the land without a specific developer attached, in order to create a "predictable path" for development.
• Alderman Aldrich expressed hesitation about departing from the standard process, requesting an amendment requiring the future developer to appear before the HUDZ committee. Vice Chair Sonyer echoed the need for a transparency amendment. Alderman Browning defended the pre-authorization model but agreed to work on the language. SLDC noted the plan is in effect for 25 years and that any developer must still pass the "but for" test.
• Outcome: The bill was held in committee to allow for the drafting of an amendment requiring future developer oversight.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments Confirmed: The committee approved 11 mayoral appointments to the Baden Market Center Special Business District (6 ayes) and the Nuisance Property Review Board (5 ayes).
• Board Bills Advanced: Board Bill 47 (Tiffany) and Board Bill 57 (Old North) were passed out of committee with "do pass" recommendations, advancing to the full Board of Aldermen.
• Board Bill Held: Board Bill 70 (Forest Park Southeast) was held in committee pending the addition of an amendment related to developer transparency and oversight.