Friday, February 6, 2015
Week 4: Class Reading - Arriana
“Old North St. Louis”
http://www.risestl.org/results/success-stories-case-studies/old-north-st-louis/
This article discusses Old North’s efforts to rebuild their community. With the help of RISE, Old North had the opportunity to invest and revitalize areas within their community. Adding single family homes at market value Old North’s goal was to attract middle-income residents that would in-turn fill vacant lots near historic buildings, enhance economic diversity, income property value to finance redevelopment efforts, and integrate the neighborhood.The Launch of the redevelopment project gave both parties the opportunity to share and gain knowledge as well as bring about change within the community.
The development project lead them to rebuild twenty new homes where vacant plots of land once stood from years of decline and demolition within the community. Out of the twenty homes built eight of those homes became affordable for lower income families which was made possible by the city’s Affordable Housing Commission. (North Market Place Homes development project) To increase revenue and to make these new homes marketable the vacant lots were not only filled but historical buildings such as the National Register Historic District were rehabilitated. (North Market Place Apartments)
RISE and Old North partnered together to buy property within Old North’s once thriving “14th street Mall”. With plans to build lofts, apartments, and business’s vital to the community and its efforts to gain “critical mass” the redevelopment of “14th Street Mall” in to “Crown Square” was created. In addition to the newly developed center square, efforts to redevelop streets surrounding the area were put in place to strengthen the mall and bring about community integration.
The three development projects accounted for the rehabilitation of 36 historical buildings, 20 newly built homes, and the creation of 80 residential and commercial sites available with the completion of Crown Square.
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I grew up in Old North (it was called Murphy-Blair back then). I was there during the heyday of the shopping district, as well as watching the decline of the area. I offered input to Sean Thomas (Executive Director at Old North St. Louis Restoration Group) and worked with UMSL's Dr. Tucciarone to help develop a marketing plan for Old North.
ReplyDeleteOne of the factors in the decline of Murphy-Blair was rooted in the plan that was developed by a consulting firm during the Model Cities Program. That plan was to turn the shopping area into a "pedestrian mall" that mimicked other successful "open air" malls like Northland and Westroads. I have a copy of the original plan, and they used a lot of data about housing stock, nearby schools, population patterns, infrastructure and capacities. Here is a newspaper insert announcing the grand opening of the mall (I was in attendance that day)
http://www.occasionalplanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/14th-street-mall-poster.jpg
But closing off the streets meant fewer commuters stopped to shop, and the continued exodus of those with higher per-capita incomes left fewer shoppers available. JC Penney was the first of the big chain stores to go, followed over the years by Western Auto and Woolworths.
Here is a clip from an amateur film I was in, showing the dilapidated condition of the mall after several years (forgive the poor quality and no sound).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThJ_mCnqGtM&feature=youtu.be
I think this is a good example of how developers come into a community and stress redevelopment, revitalization, and new housing, but there was no engagement within the community. Did the community state that's what they wanted first rather than fixing up the schools and providing better books for better education. This development is to attract new individual into the community rather than helping the individuals who are already there. I understand that an apartment complex was redevelop, but what happened to the people who were already staying there? Where they able to afford to move back into the apartment complex after the developments or where those individuals displaced because they could no longer afford to stay there due to the revitalization. This statement "Old North’s goal was to attract middle-income residents that would in-turn fill vacant lots near historic buildings, enhance economic diversity, income property value to finance redevelopment efforts, and integrate the neighborhood" completely leaves out the residents who are already there. What efforts are being done to engage with these individuals.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this article's clarity on how expenses need to be allocated to different areas of improvement in a community. I agree that bringing in more mid-income residents to help the economy. However, Ebony raises a good point about how we could have used the funds to better serve those who are already in the community and in need of help. On the other hand, improving the environment and bringing in more business will have a ripple effect on improving the future of this community. I just feel for the people who need immediate help financially in schools might have benefited from this assistance in more direct/immediate ways. To contradict myself though, this plan is a great way to sustain and build on what assets the community already had to offer in order to secure a better future.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this article's clarity on how expenses need to be allocated to different areas of improvement in a community. I agree that bringing in more mid-income residents to help the economy. However, Ebony raises a good point about how we could have used the funds to better serve those who are already in the community and in need of help. On the other hand, improving the environment and bringing in more business will have a ripple effect on improving the future of this community. I just feel for the people who need immediate help financially in schools might have benefited from this assistance in more direct/immediate ways. To contradict myself though, this plan is a great way to sustain and build on what assets the community already had to offer in order to secure a better future.
ReplyDeleteKerry, Thank you for sharing your personal experience. As someone who doesn't have a personal first-hand knowledge of Saint Louis I find your insight extremely beneficial. I agree with you Ebony that it is wildly inconsiderate to decide for a community of people what is going to be best for them. The newspaper is quick to cover the exciting possibility of a new development but rarely examines the aftermath and social cost to those displaced.
ReplyDeleteKerry, I appreciate your knowledge of the area and the work you have done in community development. Ebony, I completely agree the importance of the questions you raised. There seems to be a delicate balance between helping the current residents with immediate needs, while also thinking about long-term development to attract businesses and employment.
ReplyDelete