Project Overview

University City is an inner-ring suburb on the western boundary of the City of St. Louis, Missouri. The city’s name reflects the community’s proximity to Washington University on its southeastern border. Incorporated in 1906, University City was founded by publisher Edward Gardner Lewis who began developing the location in 1903 around his publishing complex for Woman’s Magazine and Woman’s Farm Journal. The Magazine Building, which now serves as City Hall, is a unique ornate octagonal tower standing 135 feet tall with a panoramic view of the area. With a diverse population of approximately 35,000 residents, University City is a vibrant, culturally diverse city with a dense suburban feel and numerous restaurants, coffee shops, music venues, and parks.

University City contracted Future iQ to facilitate an eight-month community-wide visioning process. The objective of the visioning process was to identify a common vision for the future of University City and to encourage collective, sustained and strategic civic action toward that vision. Careful emphasis was placed on involving youth and as many community stakeholders as possible. The City used the resulting Community Vision to support the comprehensive planning phase, guiding leadership and the community looking out to 2040.