University City is finalizing contracts to install a $160,000 surveillance system on the Delmar Loop by June.

Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill and many other establishments on the Loop, said the project has been in the works for almost a decade, but serious discussions have been taking place for the past two years. He said it is not a response to any crimes in particular, but rather another step in ensuring the neighborhood’s continued safety.

“It just gives people more of a comfort level when they know there is some security in the area, and it also deters vandals,” Edwards said. “People have been really positive, asking about it, asking why aren’t they in yet.”

Richard Wilson, director of Public Works and Parks for University City, said it is the first time University City is installing cameras to monitor buildings not owned by the city.

“It’s just [so] if there’s anything going on, that the city has a chance to respond before it gets too bad, if a crowd’s gathering or if someone’s fist-fighting” he said. “There are other cities that have gone to this because…you can’t patrol everywhere.”

Wilson added that the rising popularity of the Loop is much of the reason behind the decision.

“It’s my understanding that over the past couple years as crowd control has become an issue in the Loop area, the businesses requested that there be more security provided, and they have allocated money to do that,” he said.

The money for the surveillance system is coming from sales tax collected by businesses on both the Delmar Loop and Olive Street, Edwards said.

“If someone had said, ‘here are the funds’ 10 years ago, it would have been nice, but there wasn’t the money available then. And now that there is, it’s just the sensible next step,” he said.

Wilson said that the consultant being hired to design the system will work with the city and the Loop Special Business District to figure out where to place the cameras. He said that the consultant has affirmed the project will be complete by June.

Wilson said that, for security purposes, the final placement of cameras will remain undisclosed.

“We’re doing a master-plan for the whole Loop area within University City,” he said. “Probably we don’t have that much budgeted to have cameras in every corner…[where they will be placed] hasn’t been totally identified.”

Students were generally ambivalent toward the upcoming changes.

“I feel like the Loop is pretty safe as long as you don’t go too far down, but at the edges [a surveillance system] might be nice,” freshman Nikita Mokhashi said. “I haven’t experienced many issues.”

University City Chief of Police Charles Adams declined to comment.