St. Louis Art Place Initiative
January 27, 2021 — Projects & Programs
Building Wealth and Equity Through Homeownership for Low to Moderate-Income Artists of All Disciplines.
In 2017, the St. Louis City Planning Commission adopted the Gravois-Jefferson Historic Neighborhoods Plan. Within this comprehensive visioning for the growth and development of this neighborhood was a call for affordable, for-sale housing for artists. The St. Louis Art Place Initiative (API) was founded to work towards that call.
API was co-founded in 2019 by the Incarnate Word Foundation, the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, and the Regional Arts Commission to build wealth and equity for low-to-moderate income artists through homeownership. API secured 25 parcels of vacant and deteriorating properties in Gravois Park from St. Louis City to build 20 units of single family housing over the next 3-5 years. These homes will be made available for purchase to artists through an application process. (Now open!)
The development will provide local artists an opportunity to become homeowners, incentivizing them based on a set of criteria using a racial equity lens, and intentional strategies to promote fair housing practices.
In partnership with neighbors, community advocates, and stakeholders Art Place Initiative and its community partner, Dutchtown South Community Corporation (DSCC), will form a community land trust (CLT) to ensure the mission of API is fulfilled in perpetuity.
Photo courtesy of Dream Builders 4 Equity and banner by SPACE Architecture.
A warm thank you to Sherry Sissac for helping us showcase this initiative.