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This project is no longer active. All submitted place stories have been archived below.

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Belt Loop Liquor

Belt Loop Liquor has been run by the same family for many years and sponsors many community events. Many other businesses used to operate at the intersection.  Al Warren also recalls nearby Gundlach School.  He remembers playing corkball outside the school as a kid but notes that kids can't do that now because now trees are planted there.  Al Warren was raised in Wells Goodfellow and remains active in community affairs. August 2016

Neighborhood: Wells Goodfellow
Contributor: Al W
Location Category: Places That Promote Community, Historic Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.677163000000
Longitude: -90.267196000000
Belt Loop Liquor and Park

Belt Loop Liquor is an important business in the community because it sponsors many programs and events for the neighborhood in the park across the street.  Karen Sanford grew up in Wells Goodfellow and lives on Abner Place. Recorded on June 15th 2016

Neighborhood: Wells Goodfellow
Contributor: Karen Sanford
Location Category: Places That Promote Community
Location:
Latitude: 38.677163000000
Longitude: -90.267196000000
Black Thorn

 

 Tim feels that the Black Thorn Pub is a place of local identity because it has consistently been listed as one of the best pizza places in St. Louis. It draws people into the neighborhood.

Tim has lived in Tower Grove South for about 7 years. He loves the style, walkability, and friendliness of the neighborhood. 

Neighborhood: Tower Grove South
Contributor: Tim Holman
Location Category: Places of Local Identity
Location:
Latitude: 38.599689000000
Longitude: -90.246445000000
Blaine Ave Apartments

Patrick talks about the Blaine Ave apartments as a beautiful place in the neighborhood because of its unique architecture, especially the square stone arches over the doors. Despite its architectural significance, he feels that it has been maintained without any appreciation to its historic qualities. Patrick has lived in Botanical Heights since 1979. 

Neighborhood: Botanical Heights
Contributor: Patrick Burke
Location Category: Beautiful Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.620040000000
Longitude: -90.250310000000
Blaine Thurman East

The intersection at Blaine and Thurman is described as a beautiful place that promotes community. The neighborhood throws their 4th of July party in this area, and the community comes together to celebrate. Aberha moved to Botanical Heights in the 1980s due to the affordable housing and the proximity to both his workplace and his siblings. 

Neighborhood: Botanical Heights
Contributor: Aberha Zerai
Location Category: Beautiful Places, Places That Promote Community
Location:
Latitude: 38.619792000000
Longitude: -90.249780000000
Blaine Thurman West

Aberha describes this intersection as a place that used to be scary. He explains that it was once hard to even be around the area. It has changed dramatically in the last few years though, and has become very quiet. He hopes to see more changes for the neighborhood soon. Aberha moved to Botanical Heights in the 1980s due to the affordable housing and the proximity to both his workplace and his siblings. 

Neighborhood: Botanical Heights
Contributor: Aberha Zerai
Location Category: Scary or Unpleasant Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.619786000000
Longitude: -90.250206000000
Bnai El Brith

Bnai El Brith is an important site for the St. Louis Jewish community. Currently, it is being used for apartments, and Cara would like to see it preserved.  Cara has lived in Shaw since 2000. She moved here for work and immediately fell in love with the neighborhood. 

Neighborhood: Shaw
Contributor: Cara Jensen
Location Category: Historic Places, Places to Protect
Location:
Latitude: 38.611171000000
Longitude: -90.242901000000
Boarding House

 

In this video, Mr. Robinson talks about his memories of the "Castle House" on Cook Ave. He also thinks the property shoudl be renovated and protected. 

George Robinson was raised in the Vandeventer neighborhood.

Interview conducted October 2018.

 

Neighborhood: Vandeventer/Gaslight Square
Contributor: George Robinson
Location Category: Historic Places, Places to Protect
Location:
Latitude: 38.650382000000
Longitude: -90.241262000000
Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden is cited as a historical place in the neighborhood because of the multiple events and programs held there that benefit the community. Bertha has been living in Botanical Heights since 2014, and she enjoys the quiet, peaceful neighborhood. 

Neighborhood: Botanical Heights
Contributor: Bertha Gillespie
Location Category: Historic Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.614069000000
Longitude: -90.257029000000
Botanical Garden

Cara discusses the Missouri Botanical Garden as a historical place. It was established in 1858 by Henry Shaw, for whom the neighborhood was named. Cara has lived in Shaw since 2000. She moved here for work and immediately fell in love with the neighborhood. 

Neighborhood: Shaw
Contributor: Cara Jensen
Location Category: Historic Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.614069000000
Longitude: -90.257029000000
Botanical Garden

The Missouri Botanical Garden provides a beautiful place for the community and promotes and supports the environment. It cultivates and preserves a variety of plants from all over the world. Sean moved to the Shaw neighborhood in 1991, and loves the community and the environment around it. 

Neighborhood: Shaw
Contributor: Sean Thomas
Location Category: Environmentally Beneficial Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.614069000000
Longitude: -90.257029000000
Brick Alley

In addition to reducing runoff, the new alley behind Utah adds curb appeal. Tim has lived in Tower Grove South for about 7 years. He loves the style, walkability, and friendliness of the neighborhood. 

Neighborhood: Tower Grove South
Contributor: Tim Holman
Location Category: Beautiful Places, Environmentally Beneficial Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.597236000000
Longitude: -90.250328000000
Burd Avenue

Streets that house the elderly and long-time residents of the neighrborhood have earned the respect of the neighborhood and so there is rarely trouble on these blocks.  People from the neighborhood often pitch in to help keep the street clean and well-maintained.  D'vion Harris chose Wells Goodfellow as the neighborhood in which to buy his first house.  Although the house was purchased in 2016, he has spent a great deal of time in the neighborhood since 2001.  He is the landscaper for the Fresh Coast Tree Farm. Recorded on July 22, 2016
 

Neighborhood: Wells Goodfellow
Contributor: D'Vion Harris
Location Category: Places That Promote Community, Places to Protect
Location:
Latitude: 38.676106000000
Longitude: -90.269658000000
Burnt House on Wren

This house on Wren Avenue burned a few years earlier. Houses in this condition discourage people from purchasing nearby properties. 

Ernest B. was born, raised, and currently resides in the Walnut Park East neighborhood.

Interview recorded October 2017.

Neighborhood: Walnut Park
Contributor: Ernest B
Location Category: Places to Eliminate or Change
Location:
Latitude: 38.697943000000
Longitude: -90.254047000000
Business District Revitalization

Sister Welker expresses her hope that businesses can return to Baden, especially within the beautiful yet underutilized Broadway business district. She feels specific needs include sit down restaurants, drug stores, grocery stores and offices. She thinks the business district offers a unique opportunity for split level business/residential developments. 

Neighborhood: Baden
Contributor: Sister Welker
Location Category: Other
Location:
Latitude: 38.718566000000
Longitude: -90.229225000000
Businesses of the Past

 

Mr. Williams described the businesses, including drugstores, grocery stores, and several restaurants, that served the Greater Ville neighborhood in the past.

 

Mr. Williams was born and raised in the Greater Ville neighborhood. He is the third generation of his family to live in his home.

 

Interview conducted July 2017.

Neighborhood: Ville and Greater Ville
Contributor: Mr. Williams
Location Category: Historic Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.662151000000
Longitude: -90.244076000000
Calvary Cemetery

In this video, Ms. Pippens described Calvary Cemetery, a storm that affected the cemetery. Ms Pippens thinks of the trees and prairie on cemetery property make it a beautiful place. 

Tyanna Pippens has been a resident of Walnut Park West since the 1990’s. Her children attended Herzog Elementary and Northwest Schools. Ms. Pippens is an active member of her community in her service to St. Louis Public Schools. 

 

Interview conducted January 2018.

 

 

Neighborhood: Walnut Park
Contributor: Tyanna Pippens
Location Category: Beautiful Places, Environmentally Beneficial Places, Historic Places, Places of Local Identity
Location:
Latitude: 38.694786000000
Longitude: -90.238707000000
Carpenter Branch Library

 

 

Shuron D. Jones is an long-time resident of Tower Grove South; she has lived on South Grand Blvd. for over four (4) years. Working class her whole life, she has also been a service worker at restaurants on South Grand Blvd. Shuron is an active community member, and sits on the board of the Tower Grove South Neighborhood Association, 15th Ward Democrats, and the Workers Education Society.

 

In this video, Shuron describes one of her favorite places on South Grand Blvd., The Carpenter Branch Library. The building itself is old and pretty, yet with new, modern touches. It is a safe and accessible space, and provides the Tower Grove South community with invaluable resources like free computer usage, and free meals Monday - Friday throughout the summer.

Neighborhood: Tower Grove South
Contributor: Shuron D. Jones
Location Category: Beautiful Places, Places That Promote Community, Historic Places, Places to Protect, Places to Go When Hot, Places to Go When Rainy, Places of Local Identity
Location:
Latitude: 38.596730000000
Longitude: -90.243183000000
Carter Park

 

In this video, Roy describes Carter Park as a beautiful place, and recalls memories of fun in the park.

 

A childhood resident of Walnut Park, Roy is the son of the founder of Roy’s Transmission, Roy DeBoise, and brother to current owner of the shop, Akeens.

 

Interview conducted December 2017.

 

Neighborhood: Walnut Park
Contributor: Roy D.
Location Category: Beautiful Places, Places to Protect, Places of Local Identity
Location:
Latitude: 38.698537000000
Longitude: -90.257268000000
Change in Neighborhood

 

In this video, Mrs. Knights describes how the neighborhood has changed, and the process by which older historic homes deteriorated due to absentee landlords and how new development and construction has occured in the community along Sarah Ave.  She praised SLACO and the Sustainable Neighborhood initiative and how that led to the North Central Plan and Phase I and Phase II of development along Sarah Avenue. 

Kathryn Knights has been a resident of the Vandeventer neighborhood since the 1980's, and is a active participant in the West Belle Neighborhood Association.

Interview conducted November 2018.

 

 

Neighborhood: Vandeventer/Gaslight Square
Contributor: Kathryn Knights
Location Category: Places That Promote Community
Location:
Latitude: 38.648117500000
Longitude: -90.242467900000
Charles' House

In this video, Pamela talks about a business owner who lived and worked in the neighborhood.

Pamela McLucas is a long-time resident of Lewis Place.

Interview conducted August 2018.

Neighborhood: Fountain Park/Lewis Place
Contributor: Pamela McLucas
Location Category: Historic Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.654735000000
Longitude: 90.256572000000
Chop Suey

The tiny parking lot attached to a popular Chinese take out has become a traffic hazard.  Valerie moved to Wells Goodfellow with her parents in the 1960s.  Later in life she moved back to the neighborhood. Recorded on June 6th, 2016

Neighborhood: Wells Goodfellow
Contributor: Valerie Henderson
Location Category: Places to Eliminate or Change
Location:
Latitude: 38.686226000000
Longitude: -90.271666000000
Christmas Lights

 

In this video, Mr. Morehouse reminisces about the care given to the neighborhood in his boyhood, and the yearly display of Christmas lights put up by a sheriff who lived at Riverview and North Pointe Blvds.

Mr. Morehouse and his family moved to the Walnut Park neighborhood in 1969. He is co-owner of CCCC & C Security in Walnut Park.

Interview conducted July 2017.

 

Neighborhood: Walnut Park
Contributor: Mr. Morehouse
Location Category: Historic Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.708488000000
Longitude: -90.247641000000
Chuck Berry House

Although Chuck Berry lived in this house, its history also extends to the familes that lived here subsequently, including several who made it good after living in the neighborhood.  Melissa Green lives in the Ville neighborhood and maintains strong ties to the neighborhood where she grew up around Delmar and Pendelton.  October 2018.

Neighborhood: Vandeventer/Gaslight Square
Contributor: Melissa Green
Location Category: Historic Places, Places to Protect
Location:
Latitude: 38.648185000000
Longitude: -90.249000000000
Church Lot

The lot behind Compton Heights Christian Church provides green space for the community. Over the years, it has become a gathering place for people in the community, whether they are receiving food from the food pantry, seeking shade from the summer heat, or holding picnics or ice cream socials. Jacque believes these features make the lot valuable, as well as its protected status through an agreement with the church. Jacque has lived in Shaw since 1996, and is the pastor at Compton Heights Christian Church. She bought a house just a block away from the church because she felt that it was important for her to be involved in the community. Jacque loves the diversity of the people in the community, as well as the many beautiful landscapes in the neighborhood. 

Neighborhood: Shaw
Contributor: Jacque Foster
Location Category: Beautiful Places, Places That Promote Community, Environmentally Beneficial Places, Historic Places, Places to Protect, Places to Go When Hot, Places of Local Identity
Location:
Latitude: 38.612137000000
Longitude: -90.240753000000
Church on Thekla Ave.

 

In this video, Ms. Essie talks Whirlwind Praise Church at Lillian and Emerson Aves. that has served the community for years.

 

Essie L. and her family were one of the first Black families to move on Beacon Ave. She has lived in Walnut Park East for 45 years, and serves as captain of her block.

 

Interview conducted November 2017.

Neighborhood: Walnut Park
Contributor: Essie L
Location Category: Places That Promote Community, Historic Places
Location:
Latitude: 38.693534000000
Longitude: -90.253238000000
Church Sign

Dave discusses the signs at Compton Heights Christian Church as examples of beautiful spaces and places that promote community. The church sign at Compton Heights Christian Church was made from pieces of glass donated by church members, which light up when the sun hits them. The second sign that Dave discusses is the Black Lives Matter sign. He explains that the sign is regularly stolen, but the church continues to replace them. The final sign is for a smaller church within the building, which demonstrates Compton Heights’ capacity to foster incubator churches and promote a stronger community.  Dave has lived in the Shaw neighborhood since 1996. He and his wife moved for work, and have been involved in the neighborhood ever since. 

Neighborhood: Shaw
Contributor: Dave Boger
Location Category: Beautiful Places, Places That Promote Community
Location:
Latitude: 38.612014000000
Longitude: -90.240573000000
Churches and Restaurants in Walnut Park

 

In this video, Mr. Morehouse describes the churches and restaurants in Walnut Park, and the occupants of these buildings both past and present.

Mr. Morehouse and his family moved to the Walnut Park neighborhood in 1969. He is co-owner of CCCC & C Security in Walnut Park.

Interview conducted July 2017.

 

Neighborhood: Walnut Park
Contributor: Mr. Morehouse
Location Category: Historic Places, Places of Local Identity
Location:
Latitude: 38.710299000000
Longitude: -90.252927000000
City Diner

Brian discusses his love of City Diner for its retro appeal, good food and function as a gathering ground for neighborhood residents, along South Grand. Both Brenda and Brian expressed interest in TGS for its walkablility and proximity to dining--City Diner is one of these sidewalk venues which the pair view as a treasured asset.

Neighborhood: Tower Grove South
Contributor: Brian Martin
Location Category: Places That Promote Community, Places to Go When Rainy
Location:
Latitude: 38.601655000000
Longitude: -90.242615000000
City Hope Bible Church

Walnut Park East has many beautiful churches but some of them are surrouded by dilapidated structures. Improving the appearance of some of the older houses would help the churches and help attract business. 

Mrs. Carole was raised in the Walnut Park West neighborhood, and graduated from Northwest High School.

Interview conducted October 2017.

Neighborhood: Walnut Park
Contributor: Mrs. Carole
Location Category: Places That Promote Community
Location:
Latitude: 38.706244000000
Longitude: -90.249370000000

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