Politics & Government

City Council Approves PR Contract; Permit Applications for Future Walgreens

The city council approved a one-year, $100,000 contract with Avant Marketing Group at its regular council meeting Monday night.

Monday night, the city council approved a one-year, $100,000 contract with a public relations firm and signed off on development plans for a Walgreens to be built on Delmar Boulevard.

Avant Marketing Group, which was founded in 2004, is a St. Louis-based firm that specializes in market planning, brand development, and market research. University City will pay $135 an hour for Avant's services.

Councilmember Lynn Ricci wanted to make sure that the firm's services were not used by individual councilmembers for political means. Avant senior partner Mark Vogel said the firm takes direction from City Manager Lehman Walker and would not act without his instruction. Vogel assured Ricci that the firm's intention was to get "a city message out."

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The question was also raised by council: Why hire a PR firm at all?

"If you do not manage your image, others will manage it for you," Vogel said.

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Ward 1 Councilmember Stephen Kraft, Ward 2 Councilmember Lynn Ricci, Ward 2 Councilmember L. Michael Glickert and Ward 3 Councilmember Arthur Sharpe voted in favor of the contract. Ward 3 Councilmember Byron Price and Ward 1 Councilmember Terry Crow opposed it.

The other central issue of Monday night's meeting, however, had to do with a conditional use permit application for a future Walgreens at 8390 Delmar Blvd., as well the construction of an office building at the same location.

The permit application spurred a lot of back and forth between councilmembers because a recent attachment called for shifting the retail building closer to Delmar Boulevard. The reasoning, according to city staff, is to make the location more bike and pedestrian friendly and to preserve some of the green space.

Several residents, as well as people with links to the development project, were outraged at what they saw as a last minute change that could potentially harm a $30-million deal. However, Andrea Riganti, director of community development for the city, defended the new recommendation. 

"(City) staff is recommending that the feasibility be explored, not making it a requirement," she said. Still, Councilmember Crow was upset that city staff would revise a site plan that was already approved by the plan commission.

"I'm trying to figure out how this would happen on a $30-million deal, on a piece of property that has sat there," Crow said. “I think it is horrible that our staff put this development at risk.”

Councilmember Price also voiced concerned that the recommendation would be a deal killer. "For 100 feet of green space, we lose a $30-million deal," he said.

The conditional use permit application was eventually unanimously approved by council, minus Councilmember Kraft who recused himself from the matter at the advice of counsel. He would not elaborate.

Additional Information on the Walgreens Site

  • Remove existing three-story office building at 8390 Delmar Blvd.
  •  Construct a 14,748-square foot Walgreens retail store fronting on Delmar Boulevard.
  • Walgreens will have a drive-through for pharmacy purchases.
  • Construct a three-story, 30,000-square foot office building on the undeveloped southern portion of the property.
  • Intersection of Delmar Boulevard and Delcrest Drive will fully signalized with left turn lanes. 
  • Office building will have covered parking under the building.


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