Good morning, St. Louis. Today’s newsletter spotlights Tower Grove Park’s most extensive renovation in decades, the ongoing Boeing workers' strike, NGA’s new north city campus, a downtown food hall revival, and Missouri’s encouraging decline in overdose deaths. Plus, local arts, PFAS water updates, and community efforts in New Haven.

MAIN STORY

Tower Grove Park Renovation Begins

A groundbreaking ceremony for a major renovation at Tower Grove Park took place yesterday at 11 a.m. near the Piper Palm House, which included St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer.

The project is described as the park's most extensive renovation in over 40 years. Plans include restoring the historic greenhouse—the oldest west of the Mississippi River—and constructing a new event support building with public restrooms, a concession stand, and a catering kitchen. Four pavilions will also be rebuilt to revitalize gathering spaces and attract more visitors.

The renovation is supported by a $500,000 Save America’s Treasures grant. Construction will begin following the ceremony. For more details, see project plans and community impact here.

AROUND TOWN

A new food hall featuring four local concepts is set to open this fall on Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis. Spearheaded by restaurateur Alex Oliver, the hall will debut at 1920 Washington Ave, occupying the historic Northland building. It will include restaurants such as Keep Quiet, Little Lager, and a new, unnamed concept. The project aims to revitalize the corridor, offering a diverse range of cuisine and nightlife options while supporting downtown’s recovery from the pandemic-era decline. For more details on the lineup and opening schedule, visit the new food hall preview.

St. Louis Magazine will launch the Economic Mobility Lab this winter with $900,000 in philanthropic support. The three-year grant from the James S. McDonnell Foundation allows the publication to dedicate two full-time reporters and expand freelance coverage on economic opportunity issues in the St. Louis area, aiming to deepen public understanding and drive regional conversations. Readers can subscribe to the St. Louis Daily and Solutions newsletter to follow ongoing coverage by the Economic Mobility Lab.

Family, friends, and first responders gathered in New Haven, Missouri, to support Adam Sullentrup as crews build his new, accessible home. Sullentrup, a former Hermann officer shot in the head while on duty in 2023, received encouragement messages on the unfinished walls Thursday before they are covered. The Gary Sinise Foundation is gifting the specially designed, debt-free house, built to accommodate his needs. Read about the community effort supporting Adam Sullentrup.

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Boeing Strike Enters Eighth Week

More than 3,200 members of IAM District 837 have been on strike at Boeing’s St. Louis defense plants for eight weeks after rejecting three contract offers. The work stoppage has halted production of key military aircraft and impacted local businesses.

Union leaders say Boeing has not scheduled mediation, while workers hold firm, calling for better wages and benefits. Approximately 15–20% of union members are Black, with many holding leadership roles. Elected officials, such as Senators Hawley and Blunt, have voiced their support. Read more on the strike’s impact and negotiations.

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NGA Opens New St. Louis Campus

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) opened its new $1.7 billion campus in north St. Louis on Friday, marking the city’s largest-ever federal investment. The project aims to revitalize the area around NGA West, which has been neglected for years due to disinvestment.

While infrastructure upgrades, such as repaved roads and bike lanes, are visible, many vacant buildings remain. Local business owners, such as Andy Karandzieff of Crown Candy and Marion Evans of Daily Drip, express cautious optimism about new growth. A formal neighborhood development plan from Project Connect and the St. Louis Development Corporation is anticipated to be released next month. Read more here.

QUICK HITS

St. Louis area residents have begun receiving approval for compensation under the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act after new federal legislation included Missouri victims of Manhattan Project radioactive waste exposure.

Collinsville reversed its guidance on drinking water safety after recent tests revealed PFOA levels of 11 and 17 parts per trillion, exceeding the EPA’s 4 parts per trillion legal limit for PFAS chemicals.

Metro Theater Company presents "Carmela, Full of Wishes" this weekend in Grand Center, featuring an all-Latino cast and director in a play about community, family, and hope within a Spanish-speaking community.

Missouri saw a 26 percent drop in overall drug overdose deaths, including a 36 percent decline in opioid-related deaths in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of significant progress, according to the University of Missouri-St. Louis researchers.

Qahwatea Coffee, a family-owned Yemeni coffee shop at 15957 Manchester Road in Ellisville, offers late-night hours, traditional decor, and specialty drinks as a new alternative to local nightlife, starting with its grand opening on September 27.