The redevelopment of the Botanical Heights neighborhood (formerly known as McRee Town) has been spearheaded by the Garden District Commission (GDC), an independent, not-for-profit Corporation whose board members are residents of the neighborhoods adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden or represent neighborhood businesses and institutions. The Garden was the catalyst for the formation of the GDC in 1997 by initially bringing together representatives from these neighborhoods to stimulate revitalization. The Garden’s involvement in community redevelopment is guided by its focus on improving the physical condition and the quality of life of adjacent neighborhoods.
The McRee Town neighborhood has been the primary focus of extensive redevelopment because of the extent of urban blight that existed by the 1990’s. McRee Town was built in the early 1900s and thrived until the late 1960s. Problems were rooted in the high proportion of multi-family buildings owned by absentee landlords and a crime rate that was one of the highest in the City of St. Louis. By 2000, approximately 56% of the structures remaining were vacant, dilapidated or in poor condition.
The Botanical Heights redevelopment project encompasses a total of 14 square blocks which encompasses 90 acres and is bounded by Folsom Avenue on the north, Lafayette Avenue on the south, 39th Street on the east, and Vandeventer Avenue on the west.
In 2000 a redevelopment plan for the area was adopted by the City of St. Louis. A wholly-owned affiliate of the GDC, McRee Town Redevelopment Corporation (MTRC) is the designated developer of the area under a contract with the city. Under the redevelopment plan, MTRC acquired and cleared six square blocks at a cost of nearly $15 million. Beginning in 2004, these six square blocks were rebuilt by McBride & Sons with new, market-rate single family homes with sale prices ranging from $155,000 to $400,000. All of the homes were sold by the end of 2007 leaving the remaining eight blocks to be redeveloped.
At the groundbreaking in June 2004 for the development of new single family homes, Mayor Francis Slay called the new Botanical Heights development the largest market-driven project in the city’s recent history. “It is a superb example of public-private partnership working for the common good,” said Slay.
The GDC’s effort to preserve historic district status for the Botanical Heights neighborhood succeeded when in June 2009, the new Liggett & Myers Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The new district ensures that state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits will be available to assist the development of existing buildings.
Phase two of the redevelopment effort is now underway. During the past three years of challenging economic times, the GDC has put forth an outstanding effort to plan for future redevelopment projects so that it is in a position to move forward quickly as the economy begins to recover. Momentum is once again gaining traction.
Phase two is more all encompassing including features not included in the first phase of redevelopment. The new homes in the 4200 block of McRee, for example will be a mix of new and rehabilitated homes which will help to retain the historical character of the neighborhood. Features included in phase two include:
- Imaginative reuse of land such as finding positive uses for vacant lots which have little potential for future redevelopment. The GDC has leased 15 lots to two organizations, the International Institute and Botanical Heights Neighborhood Association, who maintain very active community gardens and will serve as models for additional community gardens in the future.
- Community improvements with the relocation of the highly regarded City Garden Montessori Charter School to Tower Grove Avenue. The new school will serve as an important anchor in the neighborhood. The school will occupy two renovated commercial buildings containing 30,000 square feet, enabling it to grow to serve up to 300 children in grades K through 8.
- Mixed use of spaces along Tower Grove Avenue including a new restaurant and other commercial developments.
- Sustainable development initiatives. All of the proposed 31 new and renovated homes in the 4200 block of McRee being developed by UIC-CDO will be LEED (green)-certified which will appeal to home buyers seeking low operating costs and more energy efficiency in a new home.
A rejuvenated Botanical Heights will eventually include more than 400 residential units, with more than 200 new single-family homes, up to 60 rehabilitated homes for rental or ownership many of which are LEED (green) certified, a highly-respected charter school, community gardens, a neighborhood playground, new and rehabilitated offices, a restaurant and manufacturing and technology-based businesses.
More than $18 million has been raised to date, including $3 million from the Missouri Botanical Garden, $3.8 million from the Danforth Foundation, $3 million from the City of St. Louis in the form of a city Community Development Block Grant Fund from the federal government, $5.85 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and $2.5 million from private contributions.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) has authorized the Garden District Commission (GDC) to offer $105,350 in Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) 50% state tax credits. These tax credits are available to qualified businesses and individuals with certain types of income who make contributions to the GDC to support the revitalization of the Botanical Heights neighborhood.