There is an article in the St. Louis Business Journal (online this week)regarding the rehab of homes at Shenandoah and Jefferson by a company called Blue Shutters. They are rehabbing eight houses now with the goal of thirty. It makes sense because the neighborhood is in the middle of Compton Heights, Lafayette Square, Soulard, and Benton Park. Has there been much development activity in this part of town? Is it coming up?
- 10K
I would say that it's coming up big time. There has been a lot of rehab activity there lately, but there are still plenty of properties to be redeveloped, especially along Jefferson, where there are tons of beautiful old townhouses that are in need of TLC.
In Fox Park, Russell looks pretty good these days, and Shenandoah, Ann and Armand Place are seeing a decent amount of renovation.
In Fox Park, Russell looks pretty good these days, and Shenandoah, Ann and Armand Place are seeing a decent amount of renovation.
- 1,044
Fox Park is a neighborhood whose rebirth that has taken me by surprise. 10 years ago I used to change buses on the corner of Jefferson and Russell, I can't even begin to count the number of times I was propositioned and saw drug activity while waiting. I always thought that this area would take years to turn around and have been pleasantly surprised over the past couple of years at its dramatic change. It goes to show that almost no neighborhood in the city is immune to improvement.
- 1,768
I think that this area benefits greatly by abutting Compton heights. Its housing stock is a little more impressive than some of the other areas, like east of grand, and I think that draws people to it.
^I used to transfer the bus at Jefferson & Russell, too. It wasn't a nice corner. But I always admired the buildings and knew it would turn around one day in the far away future. I especially like the townhouses on Russell between Compton Heights and Jefferson.
By the way, my mother used to get off the streetcar at Jefferson & Russell and walk up Russell. This would have been in the 1950s before she married. The neighborhood was ok then, but she had to cross the street to avoid walking past a tavern where men would call out. The story of her avoiding taverns in her white gloves and hat always amused me. And I thought of it everytime I stood at the corner of Jefferson & Russell waiting for a bus. That is why we can't abandon the city (any city). We share history with our ancestors and that is something too precious to lose. I love the idea of continued generations waiting for the bus at the same corner. And even if we are new in town, we are passing something important along.
By the way, my mother used to get off the streetcar at Jefferson & Russell and walk up Russell. This would have been in the 1950s before she married. The neighborhood was ok then, but she had to cross the street to avoid walking past a tavern where men would call out. The story of her avoiding taverns in her white gloves and hat always amused me. And I thought of it everytime I stood at the corner of Jefferson & Russell waiting for a bus. That is why we can't abandon the city (any city). We share history with our ancestors and that is something too precious to lose. I love the idea of continued generations waiting for the bus at the same corner. And even if we are new in town, we are passing something important along.
- 1,054
As an urban planning student, I am always concerned about where the drug dealers, impovershed, mentally insane, and others move to when forced out of their community. These are people to help and alleviate their conditions or problems. Having the people as unconcentrated as possible is best. Have these people moved within to post-WW2 communities like St. Ann, St. John, Overland, Jennings, and many others? I think so. Will they continue to move to Post-WW2 communities for the inexpensive housing? Yes. So the major question presents itself.
How can displaced people be resettled at low concentrations so as not to disrupt the new community and provide more assistance to the individual instead of the masses?
How can displaced people be resettled at low concentrations so as not to disrupt the new community and provide more assistance to the individual instead of the masses?
SMS - While I don't have an answer to your question, you are right to be concerned about people displaced by gentrification and the communities that receive the influx of displaced. We already know how warehousing the poor harmed those involved and harmed our city and entire region. I know one thing, the City of St. Louis has shouldered the burden by itself for too long. It is time other jurisdictions step in and help.
I just drove down that street tonight, mostly because I saw this post earlier today, and I thought it would be good to check out. What a great area! There are so many cool homes in this neighborhood that it's ashame that it was untouched for so long. There were three or four homes that literally took my breath away.
You can see that Shenendoah is a street that is going to be full of great homes from Soulard all the way to the Gardens.
And I've driven up and down Russell many many times, since it's the path that I take to go to McGurks. I actually never realized how much potential is on that street until I moved to the TGS neighborhood. The South city is so full of great old brick homes that it's really being populated by some great people who seem intent on bringing the life back to this area.
You can see that Shenendoah is a street that is going to be full of great homes from Soulard all the way to the Gardens.
And I've driven up and down Russell many many times, since it's the path that I take to go to McGurks. I actually never realized how much potential is on that street until I moved to the TGS neighborhood. The South city is so full of great old brick homes that it's really being populated by some great people who seem intent on bringing the life back to this area.
- 1,282
Five houses are being built on the edge of Fox Park on Jefferson near Accomac.
Drawings
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<A HREF=http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/pla ... ferson.pdf> PDF File</a>
Drawings
<A HREF=http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/pla ... ferson.pdf> PDF File</a>
Hey, those are nice! Now, the million dollar question --- are the sides brick, or siding?
- 1,282
Fox Park (The actual park) Masterplan website.
<A HREF=http://www.bepartofthepark.org/index.html>Link</A>
<A HREF=http://www.bepartofthepark.org/index.html>Link</A>
Neighborhood park to get facelift
Jim Merkel
Of the Suburban Journals
South City Journal
03/15/2006
Time was, not too long ago, that Fox Park was a haven for drug dealers.
Now, with the resurgence of the surrounding Fox Park Neighborhood, new life is coming back to the park at California and Shenandoah avenues.
More people are coming to use the playground and benches. Joggers and walkers can be found strolling through the park. The upsurge in activity has led a neighborhood residents to try to raise nearly $500,000 for park improvements.
At the center of the effort is the Fox Park Neighborhood Association Park Committee, which is spearheading plans to implement a master plan that was completed about 18 months ago
The committee plans to use about $12,000 as seed money to raise at least $450,000 for improvements proposed in the master plan, which was prepared by H3 Studios. Aaron Segall, chairman of the Fox Park Neighborhood Association Park Committee, said inflation may drive the price higher.
The 2.69-acre park is surrounded by California and Shenandoah avenues, Victor Street and Ohio Avenue. It now includes a baseball field, a basketball court, a playground and a pavilion containing restrooms that are closed. Plans are to get the restrooms in operating order eventually, Segall said.
The center of the park, next to the pavilion, contains a depressed concrete area once used as a wading pool. "One of the first things on our list is going to be either take it out or cover it up because it's a hazard right now," Segall said. A spray pool will replace the wading pool.
Read More
Jim Merkel
Of the Suburban Journals
South City Journal
03/15/2006
Time was, not too long ago, that Fox Park was a haven for drug dealers.
Now, with the resurgence of the surrounding Fox Park Neighborhood, new life is coming back to the park at California and Shenandoah avenues.
More people are coming to use the playground and benches. Joggers and walkers can be found strolling through the park. The upsurge in activity has led a neighborhood residents to try to raise nearly $500,000 for park improvements.
At the center of the effort is the Fox Park Neighborhood Association Park Committee, which is spearheading plans to implement a master plan that was completed about 18 months ago
The committee plans to use about $12,000 as seed money to raise at least $450,000 for improvements proposed in the master plan, which was prepared by H3 Studios. Aaron Segall, chairman of the Fox Park Neighborhood Association Park Committee, said inflation may drive the price higher.
The 2.69-acre park is surrounded by California and Shenandoah avenues, Victor Street and Ohio Avenue. It now includes a baseball field, a basketball court, a playground and a pavilion containing restrooms that are closed. Plans are to get the restrooms in operating order eventually, Segall said.
The center of the park, next to the pavilion, contains a depressed concrete area once used as a wading pool. "One of the first things on our list is going to be either take it out or cover it up because it's a hazard right now," Segall said. A spray pool will replace the wading pool.
Read More
So nice to see the post about Fox Park. As a resident we are really hoping that the progress continues. There are many wonderful homes of all sizes in the area that make for a diverse neighborhood. The neighborhood association and some interested residents is working hard to improve things and there is a large focus on the neighborhood park. The location is perfect since we can get to all parts of South City so quickly and we even have businesses starting up in many of our corner storefronts that previously were boarded up. When we moved here we looked at many of the "hot" areas but fell in love with the house and location of Fox Park. I think you will find every time you visit the area something new has popped up. We like to think of this area as a diamond in the rough. Oh...and if you want to support the park you can always go to Tanner B's and have a FoPA martini!
http://stlouis.missouri.org/foxpark/
http://stlouis.missouri.org/foxpark/
I just wanted to start a thread for the Fox Park neighbors. We have seen an upswing of new people moving to the neighborhood as well has some new businesses opening. We have a Fox Park kickball team and we just had our first ever float in the gay pride parade. Needless to say, there is a lot going on. I just wanted to put this out there to encourage discourse about the neighborhood.
www.foxparkstl.org
You can also find us on Facebook
www.foxparkstl.org
You can also find us on Facebook
Gained some new neighbors five doors down, and they seem really nice. I have not been able to catch their names or anything, but I think I saw one of them out jogging the 'hood, so that's good for getting people out on the streets!
Urbz,
Which block do you live on? We have had a ton of new neighbors coming to the meetings. Are you on the listserve?
Which block do you live on? We have had a ton of new neighbors coming to the meetings. Are you on the listserve?
- 10K
I keep wondering if those townhouses at Russell and Oregon are ever going to sell. They were built years ago, and there are still two left!
DeBaliviere wrote:I keep wondering if those townhouses at Russell and Oregon are ever going to sell. They were built years ago, and there are still two left!
There was one under contract not long ago, but it may have fallen through.
Looks like all the townhouses sold. This has been there for a while, but Mojo Studios at Concrete Ocean Gallery opened at 2257 South Jefferson. I was so happy to see that building rehabbed, and the gallery looks great. With Kakao Chocolate across the street, that section of Jefferson is looking much better.
Lots of rehabbing continuing in my part of the 'hood, so we're looking pretty good so far this year. The NW corner of Armand & Ohio just saw a complete rehab. I went through it before the rehab with my realtor, and it was the worst either of us had ever seen. Now the house next to that is getting some work as well. Maybe I can finally stop throwing away money renting and finally settle in the neighborhood this summer!
Urbz,
The building at the corner of Shendandoah and Russell is undergoing a complete gut rehab. It was a four family rental, they are turning it into two nice condos, make sure and check it out. The house right across the street (west) is also being rehabbed, I believe it's on the market for around $200,000 which is about average for this block of Shenandoah.
The building at the corner of Shendandoah and Russell is undergoing a complete gut rehab. It was a four family rental, they are turning it into two nice condos, make sure and check it out. The house right across the street (west) is also being rehabbed, I believe it's on the market for around $200,000 which is about average for this block of Shenandoah.
Krykel - I had to give you a hard time about this.
Since I'm pretty sure Shenandoah and Russell don't intersect,which building is this?The building at the corner of Shendandoah and Russell is undergoing a complete gut rehab
HA, you are so right! I meant Shenandoah and Oregon. There are rehabs going both sides of the street.
Stumbled upon this on stlcitytalk.com, great pics of our hood.
http://www.stlouiscitytalk.com/2010/03/ ... rhood.html
http://www.stlouiscitytalk.com/2010/03/ ... rhood.html