After years of disinvestment, new projects bring hope to North County

NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Near the old Jamestown Mall site, change is already happening that’s helping to slowly revive this neglected area.

There is forward momentum.

A few miles away, the Saint Louis Zoo is finishing work on its wildlife park.

And near where the Jamestown Mall development will happen, there are other new homes being built.

But for those who are already living there, they hope the new Jamestown development brings more things for them to do.

Overall, there’s optimism helping move this part of St. Louis forward after decades of neglect. as McBride Homes seeks to transform the vacant and vast space that was formerly the home of the Jamestown Mall into a brand-new community filled with homes, restaurants and retail.

A resident like Miguel Rivera, who lives in a newly constructed McBride neighborhood nearby, sees his community’s momentum growing every day.

“Yeah, it’s going to keep growing cause they still building down here, they got more work going up the road,” said Rivera.

Rivera lives in Riverstone by McBride, a newly constructed neighborhood near New Halls Ferry and Shackelford. The neighborhood shows the investment McBride is putting into North County.

He says this area of town, a few miles from the old Jamestown Mall site, needs more amenities, including a community center and places to help the young and the elderly.

And with major changes coming to the Jamestown Mall site, he has ideas.

“Down that strip is like older people that might need assistance like a supermarket or cleaners or even a medical center that people get checked up and not have to go too far,” said Rivera.

This week, McBride Homes announced they’re building a new community at the old mall site.

700-plus dwelling units, including single-family homes, apartments and townhomes, with dozens of acres set for retail and amenities, including a grocery store.

“Happy, sad, smiling, giggling, anxious and so that’s all natural, it’s kind of like when you’re expecting a new child,” said St. Louis County Councilwoman Shalonda Webb.

This has been a goal years in the making for Councilwoman Webb, who represents this stretch of North County.

She calls it a new day for North County.

“We can’t get a grocery store without making our population more dense. Right, and so that means more rooftops, and so this project, covering all that, giving alternatives for housing for seniors for those who want to have ranch-style houses or more custom houses, or even some multi-family housing. This is what we need, a walkable community there for our youth,” said Webb.

And this project promises to invest in the youth. Millions of tax dollars are expected to be sent to the Hazelwood School District once the project is built out.

“They definitely need help, you know what I mean? The more you invest in the future, the better it is. If you invest in the kids and give them quality stuff that they can use, you never know, you may have the next president, the next congressman, anything is possible when you get that education,” said Rivera.

This comes as Missouri Education Department data shows the school district’s enrollment has declined over the last five years.

The district tells First Alert Forward it is excited to hear of the development.

“While we have not yet reviewed the timeline in detail, any project that helps to establish roots in the community while supporting the tax base is welcomed. We look forward to welcoming the families and businesses into the Hazelwood School District,” said Christopher Norman, FO/Asst. Superintendent, Finance & Facilities.

“And hopefully this will infuse those school districts with more youth, more kids to take advantage of their education,” said Webb.

For years, North County has largely seen disinvestment, but recently, we’ve seen groundbreakings for other amenities here.

The APA is investing $27 million for a pet adoption and veterinary facility.

And beginning in 2027, St. Louis Zoo’s WildCare Park is expecting to garner 400,000 people a year at its new safari park in Spanish Lake.

Councilwoman Webb says those in North County have waited years for this new beginning.

“They have been waiting patiently with resilience for 10 plus years to see something come to this community that they can be proud of, that can represent who they are as a community, and to bring necessities and some amenities to our community,” said Webb. “Those who want to come North County, those who want to come to North County and invest, here’s your opportunity.”

One woman First Alert 4 spoke to off-camera said this is now a largely Black neighborhood with Black-owned businesses.

She loves that, but she wants other places, suggesting national chains like a Trader Joe’s or a Cava, and places for kids to go, such as a Sky Zone.

Only time will tell how this area near the old Jamestown Mall moves forward.