St. Louis, MO (KTRS) North city residents and business owners are being given the opportunity to weigh in on the development of the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency site.

The first of several meetings was held Monday night for Project Connect, which aims to gather public feedback on what the community would like to see developed around the new NGA western headquarters. Mayor Francis Slay says this type of investment brings other investments to an area. About 200 attended the meeting at the Gateway Classic Foundation.

“National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Director Robert Cardillo told me that he did not want NGA to be an isolated island. He wants it to be connected to the community. He wants the community to be connected to this organization and also to make sure that we take best advantage of the opportunity that this big investment brings.” said Slay.

Many of the residents responded with criticism during the public comment session. Resident Simon Templer wanted to know why its taken so long to bring development to the area, calling it “thirty years of neglect.”

Thankfully the NGA has come here, but its taken until 2016 of incompetency from our mayor, our city, our aldermen and women. North St. Louis has been deprived of everything. Our property values have gone done to nothing.” said Templer.

The community was also provided a construction timeline. The St. Louis Development Corporation is responsible for clearing the site to deliver to the NGA in late 2017.  Enviromental remediation will begin in July. This will be followed by a purchase site agreement in September.  The city will then begin the major site preparation, including the demolition of buildings. In September or October of 2017, the NGA will begin construction of the new headquarters.

The NGA western headquarters is expected to open in 2021.

Another NGA community meeting will be held for members of the construction trades on Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Gateway Classic Foundation.