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Westminster Place and ForestPark Southeast

A Comparison of Two UrbanCommunities in St. Louis,

Missouri

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Introduction

zBoth successful urban revitalization

projects in St. Louis, MissourizBoth had been plagued with high crime,

drugs, dilapidated housingzBoth were communities with residents that

wanted change.

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Westminster Place

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Westminster Place

z90 Acres of St. Louis Midtown and Central

West Endz1970s brought economic decline, crime,

abandonmentzBuildings demolished or looted

z

No longer a community

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Westminster Place

z1980s-Mayor and local developer Richard

Baron (McCormack Baron & Assoc.)planned to revitalize the neighborhood.

zPlanned mixed-income housing

zArea in close proximity to St. LouisUniversity, performing arts center, historichomes and two medical centers.

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Westminster Place

z Over 10-15 year period,designed 400 mixed-

income housing unitsz Mostly new construction

z One, two, three bedroom

unitszTown homes, single

family units, gardenapartments.

z Singles family units offergarages, decks,basements.

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Westminster Place

zMaster plan blocks central street with a tree

lined drive, lighting and secure walking area

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Westminster Place

z Created a diversecommunity

z Mixed housing for low tomoderate income

z Stores offer

neighborhood servicesand are run by minorityowners

z McCormack House, anassisted living facility,provides care for elderlyin need.

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Forest Park Southeast

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Forest Park Southeast

z1960s brought period of decline

zBy 1990s area was overcome with gangs,drugs, economic distress, abandoned

buildingszNeighborhood was no longer a community

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Forest Park Southeast

z1999-plan prepared under Sustainable

Neighborhood Initiative.zResidents volunteered to help make their

community betterzAlready culturally and economically

diverse group.

zBanded together to devote energies toimprovements

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Forest Park Southeast

z 45 city blocks

z 4000 residents in2000 units

z 170 commercial and

industrial buildings

z Single family, two

family and four familyhomes

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Forest Park Southeast

z Consulting firm from Pittsburghand McCormack Baron joined

to form new communityz 12 million in improvements

z Renovation of Adams School

z Tax increments used as

incentive for businesses tomove there

z Grant from HUD

z Close to public transportation,

arts center, universities andmedical centers.

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Comparisons

zBoth communities revitalized after many

years of neglectzBoth offer mixed use housing close to

public transportation, arts centers, medicalcenters.

zBoth designed by McCormack Baron

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Comparisons

zWestminster Place offers more suburban

feel-housing offering garages, decks,basements

z

Forest Park Southeast more of a cityfeelwith row homes, less green.

zBoth successful due to proper urbanplanning, community involvement, senseof place and pride.

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Works Cited

z Benfield, F. Kaid, J utka Terris, and Nancy Vorsanger. SolvingSprawl Models of Smart Growth in Communities AcrossAmerica. Washington: Island Press, 2001.

z Design Advisor. 6 Oct. 2004..

z Forest Park Southeast Development Corporation. 8 Oct. 2004

z Missouri Housing Development Commission. 6 Oct. 2004

z Sage, Linda. HUD Grant opens Doors to Forest Park SoutheastRevitalization.

z 4 Oct. 2004 .z St Louis Missouri. 7 Oct. 2004

.