Economic development projects in the Jeff-Vander-Lou and St. Louis Place neighborhoods are among recipients of Community Development Administration (CDA) Neighborhood Plan Implementation Awards, which total $1.14 million.
Community-led projects in Skinker DeBaliviere, West End, Downtown, Downtown West, and Covenant Blu-Grand Center neighborhoods are also part of the grants.
The Brickline North CDC project, which will run through Jeff-Vander-Lou and St. Louis Place, was awarded $279,500.
According to a CDA release, Brickline North CDC will deploy three pilot shipping-container business incubators along Brickline Greenway. The containers could host vendor markets, food pop-ups, and cultural events that highlight neighborhood creativity and small businesses.
In partnership with Mission St. Louis and Tabernacle CDC, the initiative will also provide training for new entrepreneurs, advance inclusive growth and community ownership in alignment with the forthcoming Project Connect Plan.
“This is exactly why the Brickline North CDC [greatriversgreenway.org] was formed, to support neighbors in building capacity and opportunity,” said Daphne Redding, BNCDC vice president and a resident of St. Louis Place.
The Cornerstone CDC project, located in the city’s West End, was awarded $234,376.
Cornerstone CDC will redevelop the vacant 900 Hodiamont Ave. warehouse into a community asset at the western trailhead of the planned Hodiamont Greenway.
The project builds on recent improvements at Gwen Giles Park which is transforming the site into a safe, flexible space for neighborhood events, pop-up markets, and small business activations.
The redevelopment, located at a connection point linking the Hodiamont, Ruth Porter, and St. Vincent Greenways, “will bring new life and visibility to this important corridor,” according to the CDA.
“The residents’ vision for a vibrant, multi-use green corridor is one step closer to reality,” said Monique Thomas, Cornerstone CDC executive director.
“Combined with the activation of the western trailhead to the Hodiamont Greenway, this marks an exciting milestone for the West End, the ‘we Collab’ plan, and the power of resident-led planning.”
The awards advance priorities identified by Neighborhood Plans adopted by the City of St. Louis Planning Commission. Each adopted plan is the result of extensive community engagement — reflecting the goals, values, and shared vision of residents, businesses, and stakeholders.
“The best ideas for how to strengthen St. Louis come from the people who live here,” said Mayor Cara Spencer.
“These projects are the result of residents working together to plan the future in neighborhoods and the City of St. Louis following through with the resources to make their visions real.”