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Planning & Economic Development
The Webster Groves Advantage
Webster Groves is located in the heart of the St. Louis metropolitan region. With two interchanges on Interstate 44 the City is easily accessible to Interstates 64/40, I70, and 270. With that access, Webster Groves is within a 10-minute drive to Downtown St. Louis, the Clayton Central Business District and West County as well as within a 20-minute drive to Lambert St. Louis International Airport. Two light-rail MetroLink rail stations are located within minutes of Webster Groves.LIVE
Webster Groves is known for its tree-lined streets, abundance of single-family homes, walkable neighborhoods, and historic business districts. The City also has an active Parks and Recreation Department, stable taxes, and "Triple A" rated schools. With all this, Webster Groves is considered a premier place to live, work, and raise a family. Multiple senior living facilities provide the ability for residents to continue to stay in Webster Groves.In 2011, Webster Groves was No. 61 on CNN’s Money Magazine’s “Top 100 Best Places to Live” list.
In 2015, the community was voted by local residents as the “Best Place to Live” in the St. Louis area in the Riverfront Times “Best of” publication.
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With multiple business districts and industrial parks, Webster Groves offers a variety of options for locating or expanding your business. The business districts stay active through various events and community activities. The districts provide pedestrian amenities, landscaping and business promotion through multiple venues. Webster Groves is already the home to several corporate offices and research facilities, including Weekends Only Furniture & Mattress, Owen Development, ICL Performance Products, and Crazy Bowls & Wraps.PLAY
Webster Groves is home to the main campus of the international Webster University which is also the location of the Loretto-Hilton Theatre and the Webster University Theatre. The Loretto-Hilton is home to the nationally known St. Louis Repertory Theater and the Opera Theatre St. Louis. The City has seventeen community parks, three bird sanctuaries along with the Recreation Center with an outdoor pool and indoor ice rink. The Algonquin Golf Club is also located within the City limits.Throughout the year, Webster Groves hosts many artistic and cultural events, which include the Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival, Art & Air, the Gazebo Park Concert & Movie Series, Community Days, Old Webster Street Dance, Christmas Open House. The City has a weekly Farmers Market from April through October with local meat, bakery items and produce.
In 2013, the Missouri Arts Council granted Webster Groves the “Creative Community” award. It acknowledged Webster Groves as a premiere community that is home to public art, galleries, arts education organizations, festivals, and performing groups.
Demographic & Economic Profile
Statistics
Incorporation: 1896Government Type: Mayor-Council-Manager
Location: 8 miles southwest of the City of St. Louis
County: St. Louis
Area: 5.9 square miles
Elevation: 560 feet above sea level
Highway Access: I-44 at Elm Avenue (59,500 Averaged Daily Trips) and I-44 at Laclede Station Road
Population
Population: 22,995 (112,000 people within a three-mile radius)Median resident age: 40.8 years
Average Household Size: 2.43 persons
Median household income: $78,800
High school graduate or higher: 96.3%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 60.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 28.8%
Real Estate
Median house value: $243,900Residential Housing Units: 9,573 (83.4% Owner occupied)
Total Residential Assessed Value: $354,220,670
Total Commercial Assessed Value: $39,070,260
Employment and Industry
Labor Force: 12,280Employed: 11,657
Unemployed: 601
Number of Businesses: Over 700
Major employers: Webster University, Webster Groves School District, Lutheran Senior Services
Stats provided from: US Census Bureau (2010), City of Webster Groves, MODOT
Opening a Business
The City of Webster Groves wants to welcome new businesses to our community! Download a copy of our brochure on Opening a Business in Webster Groves. Staff are available to answer questions about opening a business including zoning, signage, business licenses, occupancy and home occupations. You can schedule a pre-application meeting to discuss any of these items with the Planning Department.
Thank you for choosing or considering Webster Groves as the community to locate your business.
Resources & Incentives
Incentive Programs
Private
- Crossroads Business District Façade Improvement Program
Public
- Tax Abatement
- Tax Increment Financing
- Historic Tax Credits
- Community Improvement Districts (CID)
- Neighborhood Improvement Districts (NID)
- Transportation Development Districts (TDD)
- Missouri Downtown And Rural Economic Stimulus Act (MODESA)
- Webster Groves Capital Improvements Program
Federal Resources
- National Main Street Center (National Trust for Historic Preservation), Ph: 202-588-6219
- Small Business Administration (St. Louis District Office), Ph: 314-539-6600
Regional & State Resources
- Missouri Business Resource Center
- Missouri Department of Economic Development, Ph: 314-340-6823
- Missouri Economic Development Council, Ph: 573-636-7383
- UMSL - Small Business Resources, Ph: 314-516-6121
- St. Louis County Economic Council, Ph: 314-615-7663
- St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association, Ph: 314-231-5555
- St. Louis County Real Estate Information
- St. Louis County Online Interactive Mapping