Responding to an outcry from local community members and leaders, State. Sen. Jamilah Nasheed hosted a town hall meeting on June 12 to address the issue of community redevelopment. The main focus was on creating a plan to tackle the large number of abandoned houses and buildings that have become a nuisance for residents.
The O’Fallon Park Recreation Complex was bursting at the seams with community members who said that the vacant and oftentimes dilapidated buildings were not only unattractive, but also worsened neighborhood security and marketability.
The majority of the empty buildings lining St. Louis streets are not up to code and are dangerous to those who enter, Nasheed said.
“These vacant lots and buildings are an eyesore in the community – a magnet for violence and crime,” Nasheed said. “There are a number of ways these buildings can be put to better use, and that is what we are here to discuss today. We cannot just forget about these areas.”
This past spring, a coalition of residents and grassroots organizations came together and got a proposition on the ballot to address this issue. Proposition NS was a $40-million bond issue to stabilize vacant, city-owned residential properties and make them rehab-ready. The proposition failed, and now Nasheed is trying to keep that momentum going.
Porter Mills, who lives only 10 minutes from the recreation center, stated that this problem is extremely prevalent in his neighborhood.
“People who I believe are not residents of my neighborhood congregate and hang out in front of vacant homes at all hours of the night,” Mills said. “I have called the police to report the incidents numerous times, but that only scares them away for so long.”
Mills is concerned that it will soon become unsafe for his two young daughters to walk home from school alone in the fall like they are accustomed to doing. He does not want to move out of his neighborhood, but believes community revitalization is imperative. Mills was happy to hear community leaders address the problem and begin to talk about solutions on Monday night.
“I believe with the right leadership we can turn these areas around,” Mills said. “I heard a lot of great ideas tonight, and I saw a lot of good leaders in the room. I’m hopeful that we can get this accomplished.”
Nasheed cited that there are almost 10,000 buildings that have been abandoned in the area. The city owns most of them, but has remained stagnant on improving them or selling them. Nasheed hoped to get information out to potential homeowners about how to actually go through with buying these properties. “Redeveloping these areas, particularly the north side, is going to take mutual cooperation,” Nasheed said. “That’s why we are all here. It can’t just be passed off to one group. We all need a hand in this.”
She also encouraged community members to speak out in the face of high crime rates and look out for their own neighborhoods. She believes that if everyone does their part and contacts authorities when they see something suspicious or criminal, the community could potentially become a safer place to live for everyone.
“Imagine you are a young person walking by these areas every day,” Nasheed said. “Imagine what kind of mindset you would have.”
