St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) in partnership with the Creative Exchange Lab (CEL), a local design nonprofit, is launching a project to revitalize Dr. Martin Luther King Drive from downtown to Kienlen Avenue.
The initiative, which SLACO will lead, aims to harness art, history, culture, and design as equitable, sustainable catalysts to energize the area. The endeavor is expected to span over a decade.
The initial phase, supported by a grant from the Missouri Humanities Council, will focus on gathering oral histories and conducting background research as well as initiating an interactive website.
For the second phase, SLACO and CEL have proposed a project to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) that includes more extensive background research and further development of the website.
The plans include designing a bike and pedestrian walkway/loop that connects iconic sites along MLK and in surrounding neighborhoods. It would help tell the pivotal story of this historic St. Louis Black community.
“Our vision extends to developing MLK as a hub for cultural tourism and creative industries. Planned enhancements include new performance venues, heritage restaurants, a center for creative entrepreneurship, retail outlets, and lodging,” Kevin B. McKinney, SLACO executive director, and Jasmin Aber, CEL executive director, said in a letter to the St. Louis American.
“We are having ongoing conversations with the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) to partner to request funding through the National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town program to support this comprehensive master plan.”
