The St. Louis Housing Authority, St. Louis-based McCormack Baron Salazar, Global9, and U.S. Bank celebrated the grand opening of North Sarah Phase II. The mixed-use, mixed-income redevelopment includes 103 new apartments and 6,400 square ft. of retail in St. Louis City’s North Central corridor.
With the first and second phases now complete, North Sarah consists of 223 mixed-income housing units plus 12,000 square ft. of commercial/retail space. Developers hope to begin Phase III soon, said McCormack Baron Salazar Vice President Ron Roberts.
“Not long ago, this community was plagued with drug dealers, prostitution, gang activities and a sense of hopelessness,” said state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis.
Nasheed was among Government officials, community partners, leaders, and residents at Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Over the years, North Sarah has undergone a drastic transformation. Along Finney Avenue, a stark reminder of the community’s past still remains. There are vacant lots, decrepit houses – and farther down the street, a boarded-up school. But across the street, Nasheed said, a bright light shines on North Sarah.
She vowed to continue to “fight the good fight” for low-income housing tax credits, stating that many of her colleagues are unaware of its “human and economic value.” Low-income housing tax credits make redevelopment projects like North Sarah and Arlington Grove possible, she said.
There is much people can accomplish when they work together, said 18th Ward Alderman Terry Kennedy. Community Renewal and Development Executive Director Sal Martinez led the ceremony, dubbing Kennedy as the “people’s alderman.” Kennedy described his constituents as dedicated people that aided in the execution of a grassroots vision.
“They knew that they must put vision to paper to ensure that future generations would know that they had an idea,” Kennedy said. “That they had a vision of what it means to have a quality way of life.”
Stable, beautiful, affordable housing gives people hope, said Urban Strategies President Sandra Moore.
“Vulnerable citizens can’t even think about climbing if they don’t have hope,” Moore said.
One-third of the families who reside (and will reside) at North Sarah need deep continuous support to live well, Moore said. Community partner Urban Strategies provides health, financial, recreational, educational, employment and entrepreneurial services.
TAALKE, LLC, a local minority-owned business enterprise, will partner with the development team to coordinate disadvantaged business contracts. The nonprofit will also facilitate job training and Section 3 hiring opportunities for residents. Ken Hutchinson, president of TAALKE, LLC, told The American in 2011that there would be ‘unprecedented’ inclusion on the North Sarah development project.
To date, 59 percent of construction-associated projects were awarded to minority-owned businesses, eight percent to women-owned businesses, and 45 percent to Section 3 businesses. Thirty-six percent of the 249 new jobs were filled by low and very-low income workers.
It takes partnerships at all levels to make these developments happen, Martinez said. The community is fortunate to have support at the federal level from U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO, he said. McCaskill has continued to identify resources that support developments like North Sarah, he added.
North Sarah sets the bar and sends the message about the right role of government and how re-investments can make a difference, McBride said. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and Sen. McCaskill addressed the importance of re-investing in the area.
“It is a huge step in revitalizing older and under-used property into functional and accessible residential areas thanks to funds provided by the City of St. Louis and HOPE VI grant,” said Mattie Moore, deputy director for Sen. McCaskill, on the senator’s behalf.
McCaskill was unable to attend.
The $7.8 million grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority invested an additional $6.5 million in resident supportive services, site acquisition and site preparation.
“What we’re most proud of is that we’ve been at your table helping to level the playing field,” said Mary McBride, assistant deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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