“Create ownership and partnership opportunities in our communities for residents when giving incentives to developers.”
Community Member
Economic Justice Survey
Neighborhood
Transformation
Leverage community assets to transform physical, social, and economic aspects of historically disinvested neighborhoods to build their collective capacity and wealth-building opportunities.
Economic justice at the neighborhood level requires place-based strategies that are supported by adequate resources accessible to those who need them most. Investment must be directed to quality housing, areas of economic and commercial activity, and the land on which the community is built. Each of these components is critical to transforming neighborhoods for the better. A long history of wealth extraction, disinvestment, and environmental damage has created significant challenges that disproportionately affect communities of color. However, there are equally as many opportunities to address these issues.
Actions focus on building capacity and wealth within neighborhoods via increased homeownership, anti-displacement, reactivation of unoccupied land, equitable transit options, urban agriculture, home repair, and more. These tactics can be understood as strategies to advance housing justice, environmental justice, and commercial corridor revitalization. Partnering with other organizations and city departments will be necessary for transformative action across St. Louis. SLDC - and especially the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) located within the agency - have a strong leadership role to play city-wide in working toward these goals.
NEIGHBORHOOD CAPACITY BUILDING
Invest in Neighborhood Planning and Community-Driven Implementation
01
Deploy SLDC staff to support neighborhood planning processes and align financial resources and partnerships for implementation of community-driven plans.
02
Strengthen neighborhood-based organizations and community development corporations (CDCs) through grants, forgivable loans, organizational capacity support, and mentorship with established organizations.
03
Work with community partners to identify priority buildings for stabilization and development and support projects that meet community needs.
OCCUPANCY & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Activate the City’s Unoccupied Land to Accelerate Growth
01
Modernize the LRA to allow it to better fulfill its mission of managing properties and returning them to productive use.
02
Fund land maintenance and clean-up, environmental remediation, and clearing of unoccupied lots for strategic redevelopment and empower neighborhood-based organizations’ participation and inclusion in the stewardship of LRA properties.
03
Work with other City Departments to improve the city code enforcement process.
04
Fund building stabilization through preservation and rehabilitation when possible, and quality demolition or deconstruction when necessary.
05
Invest in urban agriculture, community open spaces, greenways, and green infrastructure.
HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
Expand Access to Homeownership and Safe, Stable, and Affordable Housing
01
Increase the pipeline of homeownership and affordable housing opportunities for residents.
02
Fund the production and preservation of housing as diverse as our city.
03
Invest in anti-displacement efforts to retain long-term City residents, low-to-moderate income residents, and elderly households.
Outcomes & Impact
The following outputs/impacts are aligned with ARPA funding through 2026.
NEIGHBORHOOD CAPACITY BUILDING
At least 10 neighborhoods have a neighborhood plan from within the past 10 years
Neighborhood Managers have held at least 100 community/partnering convenings
At least 1,000 residents have participated in the community planning process
At least 5 CDC’s receive substantial support from SLDC
Continued investment in Main Street Programs
OCCUPANCY & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Receive additional funding from the Board of Aldermen for LRA operations
At least 10% of LRA unoccupied lot inventory has been stabilized, and/or activated
Increase the land used for greenways, community gardens, or other green uses
HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
Development of at least 1,000 additional housing units.
Offer at least 40 homebuyer education sessions (pre-and post-closing) through partner organizations
Provide access to home repair assistance programs to at least 100 residents
Provide access to the PACE program for at least 100 residents
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