Over the last 10 years, KAF has been a key player in the transformation of the Grand Center Arts District, committing over $50M in capital and programming funds to support community development, placemaking, and arts infrastructure, particularly in the district’s eastern edge. Looking toward the future, KAF has a strong vision which will turn Grand Center from the most exciting emerging arts district in America into the most exciting arts district in America.
Long-term, KAF will continue to serve as an owner, manager, developer, marketer,
programmer, and facilitator, supporting the curation of a district that feels, looks, sounds, and tastes authentically St. Louis. The artists, designers, creatives and neighborhood stakeholders that KAF has built trust and relationships with over the years will all be part of moving Grand Center East to the next phase.
Improvements in the East Grand Center Impact Zone will be designed to complement and support the surrounding strengths and planned future growth in and across Grand Center, Midtown, and the Central Corridor. The key components of realizing this vision include:
- New Projects & Destinations: Developing new residential, cultural, employment centers, restaurants, and bars that draw in visitors, particularly spaces that don’t require tickets or reservations.
- Infrastructure: Improvements to the pedestrian experience including sidewalks, lighting, wayfinding and signage, effective parking solutions, and landscape improvements.
- Workforce Training & Development: Creating opportunities for people to learn and build skills in the arts and creative industries that will lead to jobs and economic stability.
- Incentive & Regulatory Structure: Creating a regulatory structure that encourages and controls future development, attracts investors and developers, and provides public financial assistance for public infrastructure and affordable housing.
- Marketing, Programming,& Maintenance: Continue to develop programs that maintain the vision of the district as an arts-driven, St. Louis-based space.
This long term vision will be the result of a $225 million planned investment between now and 2029, bringing approximately 200,000 new visitors annually to the district and creating approximately 400 new jobs. Much of this work is already underway, including the pending openings of The Sovereign and The Key as new venues within the district in fall 2025. We will continue to keep our readers updated on the progress of realizing this strategic vision to make Grand Center a globally-recognized place where all of St. Louis gathers.
